Simon Hart MP has expressed dismay that the mobile Nat West bank in Narberth is going to be placed on the outskirts of town and not in the High Street or main town car park.

NatWest is closing its Narberth branch later this year and replacing it with a weekly 45-minute mobile bank visit.

“The best of all options would be for it to be parked outside the old branch on the High Street, but I can see that it could be difficult to guarantee spaces there each week at the same time,” explained Mr. Hart, who organised a meeting between NatWest bosses and Narberth community leaders.

“We were then told that it would be parked at the Town Moor car park,” explained Mr. Hart. “However, on making further queries, I have now discovered that it’s going to be up at the Bloomfield Centre instead.

“This is a pretty stiff uphill walk and I really think that a lot of customers without cars would struggle to make it from the town centre. NatWest is already removing the last remaining on-street cashpoint in the town and this is giving people another reason to avoid the town centre and its shops.”

Members of Narberth Town Council also raised the issue when they met for their annual general meeting.

“A lot of people will not be able to walk that far that easily,” said Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Elizabeth Rogers.

“And people who go there in cars won’t be coming back to High Street to spend their money, they will be driving elsewhere.”

Clr. Mrs. Glynis Meredydd was also concerned that holidaymakers would be frustrated not being able to withdraw money in the High Street.

“A lot of people in their senior years use walking sticks and don’t own cars, so using the mobile bank at Bloomfield is not going to happen,” said Clr. Mike Platt.

Clr. Mrs. Donna Hole suggested the Bloomfield community bus picking people up to use the mobile bank, while County Clr. Vic Dennis said that a lot of businesses now offered cash back.