COUNCILLORS are being urged to back plans which could help plug the gap left by plans to close six branches of the TSB in the Glasgow area.

The branches in Drumchapel and Anniesland are among those scheduled to shut permanently by June next year as part of a UK-wide cuts programme.

Labour councillor Martin Rhodes will present a motion at a full council meeting this week asking for details of the steps the council is taking to work with partners such as credit unions, advice services and commercial banks to ensure residents have access to basic banking facilities.

Mr Rhodes is issuing a plea to ensure that there is provision for free ATMs across the city and all its communities while ensuring that lack of available cash and the blight of vacant bank branches are not barriers to local high street growth.

The proposal follows the announcement to close six city TSB branches indefinitely amid a “significant shift in customer behaviour” as more people bank online.

The closures come as part a UK-wide cut, which will see a total of 164 branches shut across the country and the loss of 960 jobs.

TSB bosses previously said the closures were not an “easy decision”, however the issue had been accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic.

At the beginning of the month Labour councillor Aileen McKenzie launched a petition to challenge TSB to reverse the decision.

Ms McKenzie said: “This is the last bank branch left in the community I represent Springburn, and the last cash withdrawal machines that do not charge you to have access to your own money.

“This decision will hit the poorest in the community the hardest and also those who are digitally excluded.”

Labour group leader, Cllr Malcolm Cunning, said:“Right now, our local communities need more support and more co-ordinated action than ever before. We can and must support our local businesses, and local people.”

The proposals are set to be discussed on Thursday.