THIRSK’S MP has called for more support for Post Offices, particularly in rural communities that have lost their banking services.

Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate, Kevin Hollinrake said that Post Office services have always been vital and at the heart of local communities.

However, he said this is particularly the case now because bank branches in villages and towns across North Yorkshire are closing as they hand over responsibility for banking services to the Post Offices.

Mr Hollinrake said he is concerned that there is no long-term guarantee of how long those Post Offices will exist.

He said: “To provide this important service for local people, it is critical that we continue to invest in our Post Offices so that people have physical access to banking services and to the many other services that Post Offices provide.”

During the debate the Minister responsible for Post Offices, Small Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst MP, told the house: “Between 2010 and 2018, the Government provided nearly £2 billion to maintain and invest in a national network of at least 11,500 Post Offices.

“90 per cent of the UK population must be within one mile and 99 per cent within three miles of their nearest branch.

“Government investment has enabled the modernisation of more than 7,000 branches, added more than 200,000 opening hours per week and established the Post Office as the largest network trading on a Sunday.”

In response, Mr Hollinrake said he recognised this important point but added: “However, my concern is where this support goes, because of the closure of banks, Post Offices end up being the only physical premises at which someone can bank.

“If the Government were to withdraw their support, those towns will have no banking service.

“Can we do more either to stop banks closing the last branch in a town, or to give longer-term support to Post Offices to ensure that that does not happen?”

Mr Hollinrake has pledged to continue to press for long term support to secure access to local banking services.

He is also supporting fellow MP Luke Graham’s bill that would give rural areas more support and protection from bank closures.

Small countryside towns are particularly vulnerable to branch closures as dwindling footfall causes banks to weigh up the costs of keeping branches open.

Stokesley in North Yorkshire is one of those hit by recent closures, with the town losing three out of its four remaining bank branches within 12 months.

This prompted North Yorkshire County Council’s corporate committee to write to the government in September expressing their concerns.