By Justin Kelly
Fine Gael TD for Laois/Offaly, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy has called on Ulster Bank to make their branch in Ferbane available to the community or a local organisation if it closes. The Offaly-based TD has made the call after receiving a letter from CEO Jim Brown, which states the decision to close the Ulster Bank branch in Ferbane will not be reversed.
Jim Brown has said that the bank is working on a strategy that will link up with An Post, which has a branch in Ferbane, and he made a commitment that an ATM machine will remain in the town. However, he has said that “he wishes to be clear that the branch itself will close, and the decision will not be reversed.”
The request from Marcella Corcoran Kennedy comes just days after 300 people protested at the imminent closure of the Ferbane Ulster Bank branch on the streets of Athlone. The protest took place last Friday in the Westmeath town as people took a stand against the planned decision to transfer accounts there from Ferbane after the closure.
The fiasco has been ongoing since December when over 1,000 campaigners marched through the town of Ferbane itself carrying a coffin in protest at the closure planned for March. At that time, Deputy Corcoran Kennedy said it was an “absolute disgrace” that the bank bosses were ignoring the community, while Fianna Fail TD for the constituency, Barry Cowen called for the Taoiseach to intervene.
The Ferbane Bank Action Group will meet this week to discuss the Athlone demonstration and they say the matter isn't closed.
Deputy Corcoran Kennedy is calling on Ulster Bank to ensure the premises does not lie vacant.
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