My constituents are being pushed towards cashlessness against their will, claims Jamie Stone
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Local MP Jamie Stone has warned that more than half of his constituents are being "pushed towards cashlessness against their will" amid declining numbers of free-to-use cash machines.
"Cash is a lifeline for millions and is a vital budgeting tool – yet our cash infrastructure is at risk of collapse as the pandemic has made what was already a fragile ATM structure almost unsustainable," Mr Stone claimed.
The Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross spoke out after signing a cross-party letter calling on the UK government to protect access to cash. It was sent to the Treasury for the attention of Chancellor Rishi Sunak in advance of the new legislative session.
Mr Stone, who also attended a parliamentary event in support of access to cash, said: "The Highlands has long struggled with closing bank branches and free-to-use ATMs. Over 50 per cent of my constituents feel like they are being pushed towards cashlessness against their will.
"That is unacceptable. This letter shows that it's not just rural areas that are negatively impacted by cash machine closures – it is a national and cross-party issue.
"It is vital that we see some effort from the government, and one way to start is to include it in its legislation pledge at the upcoming Queen's Speech."
According to data from Link, the UK's largest cash machine network, there was a 14 per cent fall in free-to-use ATMs in Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross between 2018 and July last year.
A survey by ATM provider Cardtronics found that 23 per cent of respondents in Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross said they had been refused when trying to pay in cash during 2021, while 51 per cent felt they were being "pushed towards cashlessness".
Sixty-four per cent of respondents within the constituency indicated that shopping would be difficult if shops stopped accepting cash. Eighty per cent believed shops and restaurants should be made to accept cash by law.
The letter to the Treasury has 72 signatories from different parties.
It states: "Millions of people across Britain rely on cash to go about their daily lives. However, access to free cash withdrawals and deposits has declined dramatically in recent years, as banks have closed branches and free-to-use ATMs have disappeared.
"Legislation remains vital and must be introduced without further delay to avoid an irreversible hollowing of the UK’s cash infrastructure that leaves communities unable to withdraw or deposit cash.
"The overall number of free-to-use ATMs across the UK has fallen by 23 per cent since 2018, rising to a fall of more than 50 per cent in some areas. Failure to act swiftly will leave millions of consumers and businesses unable to access cash in line with their needs, particularly those in rural, remote and suburban communities.
"In line with the government’s vision for levelling up the country, we believe there is an opportunity through legislation to ensure that consumers are not left behind and that cash can continue to play a practical and vibrant role that meets the future needs of both UK businesses and the wider UK economy."
At the same time, analysis by the consumer organisation Which? has shown that almost half of the UK’s bank branches have closed since 2015 – with rural constituencies affected to a greater extent than urban areas.
Which? warns that the problem is compounded for the millions of people who still rely on cash by the decline of free-to-use ATMs. Since 2018, it says, the number of free-to-use cash machines has fallen by more than 12,000 – a drop of almost a quarter.
