Labour will today pledge to ban ATM charges and stop bank branch and Post Office closures.

At the Labour Party Conference this afternoon, the Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey will make this pledge. It is part of a five point plan to save Britain’s high streets. Part of the pledge includes banning ATM charges and also ensuring a free-to-use cash point is available in all areas that need it.

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The other points include:

  • Improving local bus services and provide free bus travel for under-25s;
  • Deliver free Wi-Fi in town centres;
  • Establish a register of landlords of empty shops in each local authority, and
  • Introduce annual revaluations of business rates, ensure a fair appeals system and review the business rates system.

Saving the high street

Moreover, research from Which? found the loss of free-to-use ATMs would leave a tenth of people struggling to make payments.

Furthermore, a survey from Consumer Intelligence saw that 46% of shop owners think branch closures negatively impacted on their businesses. One-in-four claimed bank closures had contributed to them going out of business.

Rebecca Long Bailey MP, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, said: “Our high streets need saving from a slow and agonising death.

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“As part of our plan to rebuild Britain and breath life back into our communities, Labour will scrap ATM charges, deliver free Wi-Fi to town centres, introduce a register of empty properties, provide free bus travel for under 25s and overhaul the broken business rates system which is hammering retail.

“Boarded up shops and deserted high streets are a result of years of neglect and austerity. Our country needs to radically change course so our towns can thrive again.”