Concerns Ryedale is bearing the brunt in the loss of rural services

Earlier this month, industry body the Rail Delivery Group unveiled proposals which could lead to nearly all ticket offices nationwide being shut, while at weekend banking giant Barclays announced that it will be closing branches in Malton, Easingwold and Thirsk.

The bank cited changes in customer behaviour as the reason behind the closures.

It said that at the branches closing in North Yorkshire a large number of customers banked using its app, online and by phone which has resulted in a drop in footfall at the banks.

It also said that less people were using the branches regularly.

For people who use the branches regularly as their only way of banking, a Barclays spokesperson said there are only 16 customers in Malton.

The Malton branch will close on October 19.

After the closures Barclays has said it plans to open 'pop-up cashless banking sites' in the towns to provide customers with face-to-face banking support.

In a statement to customers Barclays said customers can also travel to nearby towns or cities to use a bank.

For customers in Malton, this will mean having to travel eight miles to Pickering or 17 miles to York.

In a statement to customers a Barclays spokesperson said: "We'll be working with the local community to understand the impact of closing this branch.

"Once we've gathered feedback, we'll publish the results in a booklet called 'Branch closure feedback', which you can get from your branch or online at home.barclays/ukbranchclosures."

North Yorkshire representative for Helmsley, which suddenly lost its only Post Office last year, Councillor George Jabbour said: “Before settling down in God’s Own County, I had lived in a variety of places across the UK, including central London and towns of different sizes.

“As a result, I have experienced first-hand the stark difference in the level and availability of services that residents in urban conurbations enjoy compared to communities in rural areas.

“While we are fortunate in rural North Yorkshire to have stunning landscapes surrounding us, healthier lifestyles and lower rates of crime and anti-social behaviour, there are significant costs associated with the difficulty of accessing critical services.

“This is why residents who are concerned about losing any additional services in their rural communities are increasingly choosing to use their local facilities to ensure that they remain viable.”

“At the same time, it is incumbent on service providers to fully meet their obligations towards their customers and ensure that residents who are unable to use the internet or don’t have access to transport are not left behind.”

Meanwhile, a protest against train ticket office closures was held in York yesterday (Tuesday).

Flick Williams, a visually impaired wheelchair user and disability rights activist and campaigner, said: “If I travel to Malton I’ve got no guarantee of being able to get passenger assistance to put a ramp on the train to board me.

“I will not travel if I risk being stranded because what happens to me then?

“I’m completely lost. I’ve got nobody I can ring up say ‘come and rescue me from Malton’.”

Kevin Hollinrake MP for Thirsk and Malton said he completely understand why constituents were disappointed at the news the ticket office was closing.

" Having face to face services is vital, especially in rural areas. Nonetheless, is important to note that ticket offices have seen a significant decline in use over the last decade, yet the number of ticket offices has not substantially changed to reflect this. I have written to ministers to raise my concerns about the short time for consultation regarding Malton ticket office and will continue to stress that constituents' voices must be heard before any decision is taken.

Mr Hollinrake said he was also very disappointed that Barclays had decided to close their branches in Thirsk, Easingwold and Malton.

"Having access to banking in rural areas is critical and will have a knock on effect on local residents and businesses who often rely on a physical bank branch.

"I have met with Barclays to ensure there will be a provision for residents going forward and been assured there will be permanent ‘Barclays Local’ facilities in all three locations. In Easingwold there will be a presence of 20 hours per week and Thirsk and Malton 14 hours per week - where customers can meet colleagues for face-to-face support without the need to travel.

"While many personal and business transactions can be carried out at the Post Office, it is still not acceptable that rural areas once again bear the brunt of loss of services. As the details of the closures and replacement support are finalised, I will keep up regular communications with Barclays and ensure residents' concerns are raised with them directly and properly addressed."