Seven days after the closure of the Lloyds branch in Pembroke Dock, Sam Kurtz MS updated town councillors on the campaign for a banking hub.

Explained in detail at the previous council meeting by Postmaster Peter Robinson, a banking hub would prevent South Pembrokeshire from becoming a “banking desert” and has cross-party support after being initially turned down by LINK.

The Senedd Member for West Carmarthenshire and South Pembrokeshire told councillors that LINK has a statutory duty when a town’s branches close, to assess the potential need for a banking hub.

The problem is that such assessments are based on access to cash, rather than banking services, and Pembroke Dock has four ATMs as well as the over-counter service the Post Office provides. It also failed to meet LINK’s standards: 70 relevant cash-using businesses, 10,000 adults and a vulnerable population (for example those escaping domestic abuse would be more likely to need face-to-face banking services.

Challenging these findings, Mr Kurtz is building a case to show how the town meets all three criteria, and to persuade LINK to see the need in terms of the whole of South Pembrokeshire, for which Pembroke Dock is a shopping centre.

He argues that the town has 19,000 adults living within a three-mile radius, and intends to source population growth data from Pembrokeshire County Council’s Head of Planning Harriet Lavender.

Data from the Senedd Research team demonstrates that “underlying deprivation in our area is very real,” said Mr Kurtz, with three areas in the bottom 10 per cent, according to the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation.

“Pembroke also needs to be in the equation,” he added, “with no banks in the town.”

Councillors mentioned that they used the Lloyds branch themselves, and how busy it was whenever they went in. Remarks were also made on the bank’s practice of encouraging staff to drive customers away from face-to-face services and then using data about reduced footfall as an argument for closure. Mr Kurtz added that he was pleased that the majority of branch staff have been relocated.

He named Jane Hutt, Eluned Morgan, Henry Tufnell, Cefin Campbell and Jane Dodds as allies in the campaign for a banking hub for Pembroke Dock. Angle Community Council are also in support.

“The community are asking for it; over 500 have signed the petition so far, but LINK are the gatekeepers, and it’s going to take some pushing,” he added.

“What can we do to help?” asked the Town Clerk.

Mr Kurtz replied that a letter of support from the council would help, as would a letter from any businesses or community groups who have been used to physical banking and would benefit from a banking hub in the town. Cllr Bowen suggested enlisting the support of age charities. Cllr O’Connor proposed that Pembroke Dock Town Council write to LINK in support of a banking hub; all councillors agreed.