Plans to remove one of the busiest cash machines in Dundee’s West End have been branded “ridiculous”.
RBS has lodged a planning application to shut the bank’s ATM at 260 Perth Road, the site of a former branch that shut in 2014.
It is understood RBS does not own the building in which the cash point is housed but had previously promised to retain the facility.
There are three other cash machines nearby at the Spar supermarket, the Post Office, and at Premier Stores, but none are run by a bank.
Peter Menzies, chair of the West End Community Council, said locals rely on the heavily-used cash machine.
He said: “We are totally against this. It’s ridiculous.
“Communities rely on cash machines. We can’t just have banks ignoring their obligations to customers and closing them whenever it suits.
“It would be foolish to rely on third party ATMs as they aren’t necessarily always going to be free and they come and go often.
“It’s very frustrating and we’ll be doing everything we can to prevent it.”
West End councillor Fraser Macpherson said RBS promised they would not close the ATM when the branch shut.
He said: “I would be very concerned if the ATM is removed.
“When the branch closed I spoke with RBS to try to get them to keep the branch open but also to keep the cash point and they agreed to this.
“The last thing we want to see is a net reduction in ATMs in the area.
“Over the years, we’ve seen the closure of a number of West End banks, such as Clydesdale, TSB and obviously, recently, RBS.
“While I do appreciate more and more people are banking online, the bottom line is that we all need cash machines.
“Third party ATMs are all well and fine but banks do not have control over them.
“Even if they’re free at the moment, that can change.
“There are thousands of RBS customers in the area and taking away this ATM would be detrimental to them and the shopping area.
“I do think they have an obligation to customers and it’s a busy shopping district.”
It comes not long after an RBS cash machine outside a recently-closed bank branch on Albert Street in Stobswell was left out of action for an extended period.
Local residents and businesses had voiced their frustration that the ATM was repeatedly out of order.
RBS were approached for comment but had not replied at the time of going to press.
