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| SCROOGE’S
‘MEAN’ BANK |
Campaigner
dons Dickensian garb for queue protest
SCROOGE himself turned up in Upper Street this week to protest
at “mean penny-pinching banks” and to claim that staff
cuts force customers to queue for up to 40 minutes.
Computer expert Dr Mike Westmacott, dressed as the Dickens character
in Victorian nightclothes and dressing gown, was cheered by disgruntled
customers outside the HSBC branch at Angel. He described banks’
attitude to customers as “humbug” and carried a banner
describing HSBC’s “record profits and record queues”.
He said: “Scrooge was cold, uncaring and unkind. The banks
appear to have picked up a few of his tips.”
Dr Westmacott, 27, hired his Scrooge outfit from a local costumier
for the one-man demonstration at lunchtime yesterday (Thursday)
outside the branch of Britain’s biggest bank.
Banned from entering the bank, he handed out his questionnaires
asking customers to rate the quality of service they have received
from counter staff.
He was stepping up a campaign – first featured in the Tribune
last month – for more counter staff to cut queues at peak times.
He has won support from national pressure group Campaign for Community
Banking, which opposes bank closures and calls for improved services.
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| Academy
approved – again |
A CONTROVERSIAL city academy in Holloway has finally won planning
approval after a fiery meeting.
Objectors and supporters exchanged jibes at a marathon meeting of
Islington Council’s west area planning committee in the Barnsbury
Complex on Tuesday evening.
Committee chairwoman Ccouncillor Emma Gowers had to constantly silence
the audience during debate on the St Mary Magdalene Academy plans.
The High Court quashed an earlier decision to approve the Liverpool
Road plans because English Heritage had not been consulted over
the impact of the project on the surrounding area.
Plans were approved on Tuesday despite objections from English Heritage
and the disclosure that children at the new academy will have less
play space than pupils at any other school in Islington. This week’s
decision means construction work at the St Mary Magdalene Primary
School site can continue, with the Diocese of London as £2
million sponsor.
Town Hall assistant director of planning Graham Loveland said the
building was “bulky” but “not unacceptable”. |
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