Will Scottish Parliament intervene over bank branch closures that are blighting many town centres? – Brian Wilson

The latest round of branch closures announced by Lloyd’s Group, which includes the Bank of Scotland, and by RBS is another severe blow to the town centres which are to lose them.

The closure of bank branches has long been a concern for many communities (Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA)

Everyone understands that banking habits have changed radically and, just as it makes no sense to have three steeples in a town centre attributable to ancient schisms, so it is unrealistic to maintain a banking status quo.

So far, so reasonable. However, there are also social responsibilities which banks have been given far too much licence to ignore. No other western European country has seen such wholesale closures, just because it suits these vastly profitable businesses.

They can’t all be converted into pubs or nail salons, and former banks contribute much to the general degradation of town centres. That demoralises communities and hastens a spiral of decline. Banks should not be allowed to walk away from these wider issues.

A sustained commitment to regenerating town centres would be a great priority for all political parties to adopt. More could be demanded from institutions like banks and pressure exerted through their regulators to enforce more rigorous obligations – or even to get them to work together.

The trend will otherwise only go in one direction, with minimal regard for the public interest. Automated call centres in far-off lands may be the cheap option for bonus-hungry executives but the social damage and service diminution are real. Maybe this is something Holyrood could set its sights on and make Scotland a genuine leader in across the UK?