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Parish call for U-turn on NatWest closure
MPsupports village school
HELEN Grant MP visited Marden Primary School as it prepares for growth ahead of large new housing developments in the village. More than 500 homes have plan-
ning consent in Marden and the school is planning to expand to cater for an expected increase in pupil ad- mission numbers from 280 to 420, meaning an increase from 40 chil- dren per year group to 60. The Maidstone and theWealdMP
said: “There’s still a way to go in terms of securing adequate funding and appointing the right contractors. Marden Primary’s board of gover- nors is blessed with some highly qualified professionals with consid- erable expertise in land and build- ings. I am sure they will carry the expansion through successfully and I amhere to help if called upon.” Mrs Grant is pictured with head- teacher Malcolm Goddard.
A MEETING is being arranged with NatWest bosses over the clo- sure of the bank in Staplehurst. Apetition is also expected to back
the call being made to branch chiefs to reconsider the decision, which will see nine branches close across Kent, including the one in Bearsted. Staplehurst Parish Council says it
is disappointed that its representa- tions to NatWest have not produced a positive outcome so far, with the bank maintaining the closure is in the interests of customer and staff safety, following ram raids on the premises and owing to a change in banking habits. The council is now in contact with
the bank – part of the RBS group – to arrange a meeting, and says NatWest has said it is willing to talk. Already the council has received re- quests from MP Helen Grant and both county and borough council- lors who also wish to attend. Borough councillor Louise Brice is among them and has organised an online petition that will be sent to the bank’s chief exec Ross McEwan. It has already attracted more than 200
“For individuals who have mobil-
ity issues, like those at Sobell Lodge in the High Street, they have noway of getting to Cranbrook. “I think NatWest will lose loyal customers over this, which makes a nonsense of the amount it spends advertising to attractnewcustomers. “Closing branches should not be a spreadsheet decision without con- sidering the consequences and im- pact on customers.” She will be pushing for the branch
signatures and dozens of comments from villagers. Margaret Williams said: “It’s a
well-used service and supports local business and peoplewholack trans- port to other places. Staplehurst has a large population and not all bank- ing can be done online. Perhaps it could be used as a business hub with financial support from other banks?” Cllr Brice added: “We are urging
Ross McEwan at RBS to re-open the NatWest in Staplehurst.We are one of the largest villages in Kent, who have loyally supported our local NatWest branch, and this is our only local banking facility.
to remain open, or for an alternative service, such as a mobile bank. A RBS spokesman said the num-
ber of transactions in all its branches had declined since 2011 and in Sta- plehurst by 18%, while online and phone banking rose by 49%. The latest round of closures fol-
lows the bank’s decision in recent years to pull out of Marden, Cox- heath, Lenham, Snodland and Headcorn. You can sign the petition at
www.change.org/p/ross-mcewan- rbs-co-uk-prevent-closure-of- natwest-in-staplehurst-kent or by calling Cllr Brice on 01580 892141.
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