LETTER: National Westminster Bank's Willesden Green closure will hit the elderly, disabled and those without internet access

 

Dear Editor.

I am an elderly resident of Willesden Green and can't walk very far. The National Westminster Bank in Willesden Green is just four minutes from my home but is due to close in February.

The elderly, people with mobility problems and the disabled need an accessible local bank and those are the people who will be most badly impacted by the closure.

The cashiers at the branch know their customerrs well and are aware of those who have mobility problems.  They notice when you are frail and invite you to sit down on a chair to wait rather than have you join the queue and stand for a long time. 

They even offered to identify me as someone with memory problems.

On one occasion I visited the bank with a builder who had done some work for me and needed a cash payment. The cashier leaned over to me and whispered, 'Are you okay? You are giving him a lot of money.' This shows they know their customers and care about them.

People of my generation don't use the cashpoint outside the bank for fear of being mugged and instead use the cashpoint inside the bank. If we have to use the outside cashpoint we feel insecure and fearful. Somone I know was mugged when  withdrawing money at the cashpoint and theft takes place even during daytime.

At the moment I am just about able to do online banking but some people don't have internet access. I am unable to use a mobile phone App which Nat West offer as an alternative. I suspect many other elderly people are in the same situation.

Their statement suggesting that they only had two 'regular customers' in 2022 seems wrong to me judging by the queues I see.  How do they define regular? How do they reach the figures they quote - I would like to see the detail  and methods in their closure  impact assessment.  

When National Westminster closes in February and Lloyds a little later there will be just one bank, Barclays, left in Willesden Green. Barclays Bank is not an ethical choice.

National Westminster suggests we go instead to their branches in Kilburn High Road, Golders Green or Swiss Cottage. Unfortunately Willesden Green has no lift for the elderly or disabled so this makes journeys difficult or impossible for some.

They also suggest banking at the Post Office in  Willesden.  Have they seen the queues that line up outside on the pavement?  I am concerned about personal safety if I withdraw money at the post office.

I would like to see National Westminster Bank withdraw the closure notice and hope others will make their voices heard.

Regards,

Willesden Green resident for more than 40 years.

 

Editor's comment:

After receiving this letter I checked the police crime figures for Willesden Green area. The last available are for November 2023. It shows 21 crimes near the National Westminster bank.

 Breakdown

Theft from the person 5, Anti-social Behaviour 3, Shoplifting 3, all other crime 10.

Source

 

 

Last year AgeUK published a booklet on the impact of the switch to on-line bank on the elderly. You can read it HERE

Make Willesden Green launch tomorrow at Queensbury Deli

Alex Colas will be launching his independent Make Willesden Green campaign for the 2014 local election in Brent tomorrow. He will be standing in the Willesden Green ward and his launch is at the Queensbury Deli, 68 Walm Lane, Willesden Green (right out of the station and on the left hand side.

The meeting is from 6pm until 7pm.



This is  Alex's platform:

 Make Willesden Green is an independent, grassroots platform that aims to:

•    Make Willesden Green more Democratic: local residents have been poorly represented by local Councillors and mainstream parties. The demolition of  Willesden Green Library Centre serves as a perfect example of how Brent Council put profits before people, ignoring widespread local opposition whilst promoting interests other than those of our neighbourhood. Local democracy requires better representation and more participation. If elected as an independent Councillor, I won’t be under any Party’s whip and will fight incessantly for participatory democracy in our ward and beyond. 
•  Make Willesden Green more Equal: the absence of affordable housing among the 92 luxury flats that will be replacing the Library Centre is a slap in the face to our community. Instead of addressing the chronic housing shortage for ordinary residents, the Council is inviting wealthy investors to speculate in our neighbourhood. In education too, the Council has been complicit in the privatisation of our state-funded schools. Public housing, education and free healthcare are key to achieving a more equal and democratic society. If elected as a Councillor, I will fight relentlessly for a public NHS, for quality state-funded and democratically accountable schools, and for properly designed affordable housing near people’s workplaces. 
• Make Willesden Green Safe: a busy neighbourhood is a safer neighbourhood. We need to protect and create public spaces and amenities where all people (especially children and the less mobile) can walk, rest, play or cycle safely and comfortably. The Library Centre redevelopment has swallowed up the only breathing space we had on the High Street, while other open spaces (like the one opposite Kingsley Court on St Paul’s Avenue) are left derelict. I believe traffic-calming measures and a public realm that is friendly to children, cyclists and pedestrians will make for a safer, more vibrant Willesden Green. 
•   Make Willesden Green Thrive: we need to support independent retailers and businesses in our neighbourhood. A pub like the Queensbury, which serves the community (as well as food and drink); or a shop like the sorely-missed Willesden Bookshop are much more than simple commercial outlets. They act as community hubs, facilitating the interaction between diverse residents, offering valuable services and ultimately encouraging local people to spend on our High Street. They also create sustainable and meaningful employment for many local people. As a Councillor for Willesden Green I would campaign for policies that promote the use of our High Street and champion neighbourhood-oriented enterprises.