A County Derry heritage group have made a bold pitch for a soon to be vacant bank building adjacent to their current base.

Maghera Historical Society (MHS), based on the town’s Main Street, have called on Ulster Bank to ‘donate’ the bank building to the group following its planned closure next month.

The bank’s announcement of the closure back in May caused anger and dismay locally, with local customers and business owners voicing their disappointment.

Now MHS, through Director James Armour, and Project Director Dr Conleth McCloskey, have released a statement suggesting the bank ‘donate’ the building to them.

“Ulster Bank should donate the building to the town through M.H.S. Heritage and Culture as a gesture of goodwill to the people and the greater community who supported the Ulster Bank in Maghera over the past 150 years,” they said.

“Since their 2015 inception, M.H.S. Heritage and Culture Ltd have provided the community with a welcoming space in which the inhabitants of the local area can meet, socialise and expand their historical knowledge and general interests.

“Currently, the Centre boasts a men’s shed, ladies craft room, a reception area decked out with historical artefacts, an exhibition gallery, research library, genealogy research team and many other supporting facilities for social interaction, recreation and leisure time activities.

“Plans are currently in place to develop the first floor into a…