COUNTY politicians have held talks with chiefs at Royal Bank of Scotland over the closure of the Prestonpans branch.

East Lothian MSP Iain Gray and George Kerevan, the county’s MP, held meetings with Les Matheson, CEO of retail banking at RBS, last week to discuss the closure.

Mr Gray was joined at the meeting by Councillor Willie Innes, council leader and ward member.

The MSP was disappointed the meeting had not taken place ahead of the branch closure, with scores of locals taking to the streets outside the Ayres Wynd branch to protest the decision.

Iain Gray said: “Getting this meeting had taken some time, and unfortunately it finally happened after the branch has closed – although plenty of representations were made previously to try and get RBS to change their mind.

“Mr Matheson made much of the arrangements which have been put in place, especially with the Post Office, to allow customers some banking facility without having to travel to Tranent or Musselburgh.

“However, Councillor Innes pointed out that these too, like the closure, were presented as a fait accompli, and it would have been more valuable to have discussed the whole plan before closure rather than after.

“In the end, Mr Matheson agreed to meet us again a year from now to review whether the new arrangements were in fact working.”

Mr Innes, meanwhile, added: “While this meeting gave us the opportunity to convey once again the anger and frustration felt by many people in Prestonpans at the closure of the town’s branch, it could not change the facts of the closure having gone ahead against the wishes of the community.

“I made Mr Matheson aware of the interest of the community council and local area partnership in how the bank building could now be used for the benefit of the community.

“It occupies a very significant site in Prestonpans, and we certainly do not want to have it lying vacant for years while RBS has it on the market.

“A number of potential uses have already been mooted which would have the potential to enhance rather than detract from the town.”

Meanwhile, Mr Kerevan added: “I value having RBS in East Lothian. I hope the bank and the local community can strengthen their relationship in the future. But the bank must learn to consult with elected members on strategic decisions which affect the county.”

Mr Innes also gave councillors an update on Tuesday at the start of East Lothian Council’s first full meeting following the summer recess.

He said: “We met with senior members of Royal Bank of Scotland, who, it was basically a fait accompli at that time.

“They advised us of the reasons: the footfall had fallen, they maintained the customer base had moved from going into a branch to other forms of banking.

“They said it was not taken lightly and it was not done for financial reasons but for customer reasons.

“We can all take what we want out of that; nevertheless, they said they review the situation after a year.”

Fellow ward member Margaret Libberton told members she had visited the Tranent branch and found a number of customers in the queue were from outwith Tranent, with many from Prestonpans or Cockenzie.