A PLAN to move the last-remaining Inverclyde RBS branch to a Greenock business park has been slammed.
Councillor Jim MacLeod has criticised Royal Bank of Scotland bosses for proposing to close the Cathcart Street office in Greenock and switch to their Mortgage Centre away at Cartsburn.
RBS officials say it will mean a new, state-of-the-art branch for customers but Mr MacLeod insists it will cause a great deal of problems, particularly for the elderly and disabled.
The councillor, whose ward stretches to the edge of the Mortgage Centre, also criticised the bank for a lack of public consultation over the matter.
RBS has submitted a planning application seeking permission to convert a section at the back of the Cartsburn call centre into a retail branch.
It comes after it was revealed that the bank - bailed out by the UK Government a decade ago - is paying its first dividend in 10 years.
Councillor MacLeod said: "Just last week, it was revealed that RBS is back to a similar financial situation prior to 2008 so this announcement is a nonsense, it's disgraceful.
"The more people who speak out the better.
"What consultation has there been?
"Taxpayers put billions in to saving the bank in 2008.
"Perhaps the bank needs reminding who bailed it out."
Mr MacLeod also raised safety concerns about the proposed Mortgage Centre branch for people with mobility problems and extra 'burden' of increased traffic to and from the location.
The idea comes after planning permission for a £1 million Starbucks development on former RBS-owned land next to the Mortgage Centre was refused in June because that area is protected for use by business, financial services or green technologies sectors and not commercial purposes.
Councillor MacLeod said: "I don't sit on the planning board but this seems very strange - a similar thing could be said about what they are planning now, with a bank branch being located there.
"This is a very sore one to take from RBS.
"A lot of customers are talking about closing their accounts and moving elsewhere because of this.
"People are very unhappy."
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