VALE of Clwyd MP, Dr James Davies, is aiming to establish Prestatyn as a regional banking hub.

Last year saw Prestatyn face the rapid closure of banks in the town, prompting Dr Davies to launch a campaign to re-instate cash machines in the High Street.

This prompted the installation of two machines by Cardtronics, at Jenny’s on the High Street and Meliden Road Post Office, and news that a third is set to be installed at Principality Building Society.

Yet just before Christmas, major UK banks agreed to create a network of shared banking hubs to ensure communities have fair access to banking facilities.

The agreement was reached amid mounting pressure over UK bank branch closures.

The location of these will be guided by minimum requirements to be set out in Government legislation later this year.

In a meeting with cash machine network company LINK last week, Dr Davies met with Head of Financial Inclusion at LINK, Nick Quin, to discuss the hub model and the possibility of Prestatyn benefitting from one.

He said: “The introduction of these new banking hubs is great news and a concept I have been discussing with Ministers in the Treasury for some time.

“They mark the beginning of a long-term commitment to ensure ongoing banking access for communities where services are limited.

“Under the new model, any community that faces the closure of a core cash service, such as a bank branch or ATM, will have its needs independently assessed by LINK.

“I was therefore pleased to meet with LINK on Friday to discuss the possibility of Prestatyn being considered for such a hub.

“The town has had its banking facilities decimated in recent years and as such could be a strong contender if it meets all the criteria."

On the continued partnership with LINK for banking in Prestatyn, he added: “I have been working closely with LINK in response to the multiple bank closures in Prestatyn over the past several years.

“In Prestatyn, the bank closures have hit independent retailers and elderly residents particularly hard, and I know that they, and many others, would very much welcome a banking hub in the town.

“I will therefore now gather as much evidence as possible to support Prestatyn's case, starting by writing to local businesses and asking them to detail the impact upon them of the bank closures.

“We also need to communicate to LINK a clear picture of the extent of impact on residents, visitors, and shoppers."

Anyone affected by the bank closures in Prestatyn can send their supporting evidence for a banking hub in the town to James at either james.davies.mp@parliament.uk or 198 High Street, Prestatyn, Denbighshire, LL19 9BP.