by Alan Jacques
FINE Gael parliamentary party chairman Dan Neville has called on Ulster Bank to retain its ATM services in Croom, ahead of a protest meeting on this Friday morning.
The closure of local Ulster Bank branch is due to take place on March 13 and follows the departure of AIB just over a year ago.
Deputy Neville insists it is imperative that the ATM machine is maintained as the nearest access to another one after this is 14 kilometres away. Around €7 million passes through the machine each year.
“The removal of an ATM machine can have a knock-on effect, as people will have to retain large amounts of money in their homes and obviously, in the present climate, this is not advisable,” he warned.
A public meeting to protest the closure of the branch will be held this Friday, January 16 on the main street at 11am.
Proprietor of the local Spar supermarket, Padraig Broderick, believes the closure of the Ulster Bank branch will leave Croom at a serious disadvantage and have a knock-on effect on efforts to attract new business and employment to the locality.
“The removal of the ATM will affect everyone in some way, whether you are going to work, shopping or socialising. Lack of access to your money will make life more difficult so we are calling on Ulster Bank to at least sit down with us and find some way to keep this vital facility in Croom’, he said.
