It comes after the royal burgh’s residents saw Dumfries and Galloway Council granting approval to turn 21/23 High Street, where the ATM currently is, into flats. The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Lochmaben branch closed in 2014 but the cashline remained in the High Street.
Although the bank hasn’t said the machine will be removed the planning notice has sparked fears for some Lochmaben residents. Lochmaben community council chairman Colin Davidson told the Annandale Herald residents want clarity about the worrying situation. He said: “Having potentially no ATM machines in the town is concerning for the local community. A few residents have been in contact as they would struggle to take money out as the nearest cash machine would be in Lockerbie which is some distance away.
“It was my understanding that the planning permission would include the bank machine but that doesn’t seem the case now. I think residents want some clarity about what is actually going on.” Mr Davidson added if the cash machine had to come out of the building residents would want it to be put somewhere else in Lochmaben.
Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP David Mundell has stated in the House of Commons that he has been reassured on two occasions from RBS that they don’t intend to take the ATM from Lochmaben. He also warned the coronavirus crisis could potentially lead to more cashline losses.
RBS has been contacted for comment.
