Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates has called on the First Minister in the Chamber to work with businesses to ensure that resources, in particular better broadband, are targeted in line with any plans to reduce local services in rural areas.
Commenting Mr Bates said:
“Removing local services has a devastating impact on communities, particularly on the most elderly and vulnerable who find it most challenging to travel to nearby towns and villages to access services elsewhere. In rural areas we face the additional burden of a poor broadband infrastructure, which often leaves individuals unable to take advantage of the products, services and offers that are increasingly available online.
“In Montgomeryshire, Natwest are pursuing a reduction in service hours at three local branches in Llanidloes, Llanfair Caereinion and Montgomery. Customers are being urged to sign up to online banking, a service often taken for granted in urban areas but in many rural areas a reliable internet service is not even a reality.
“I have called on the First Minister to have discussions with businesses like NatWest about their plans, so that the Welsh Government can target resources, in particular the broadband services needed in rural Wales to help people bank online as these branches close, as well as helping them to access other online services that are not available in rural communities.
“The decline in local services is the last thing we want, but where businesses persist on reducing services in a community then it is crucial to better target resources in line with any business plans to reduce local services in rural areas, to enable continued access to the services upon which we rely.
“I am disappointed that the First Minister refused my request to discuss this approach with businesses. In the current climate of budget cuts it is common sense to target resources where they are most needed and I hope that the First Minister will reconsider my request.”
