Councillors in Newry are being asked to unite to demand an end to ATM charges.
A notice of motion will be considered at next week’s full monthly sitting of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
It quite simply insists that the time is long overdue for such charges – levied against people withdrawing their own money from ATMs – to be scrapped.
While most machines now are free to use, some – particularly stand-alone units in commercial premises – do impose a standard fee for transactions regardless of the amount of withdrawal.
The charges have been branded “unfair”.
Now Sinn Féin Councillor Oonagh Magennis wants the council to intervene and do what it can.
She is asking fellow councillors to recognise “the growing concerns in relation to ATM charges and the financial difficulties these charges cause particularly to our most vulnerable citizens”.
And she further requests the council make contact with the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Jesse Norman MP, on the matter.
Councillor Magennis wants council to request that he “look at this issue and introduce measures to reduce or remove these charges for the benefit of customers and shop owners”.
The motion will be debated on Monday.
