Barclays Bank in West End Lane

• THE Barclays Bank closure in West Hampstead triggered a useful letter, (Please save our bank, April 15).

But it missed an important point, namely that Barclays are closing the one and only bank in an area bounded in the north by Finchley Road, Cricklewood Lane, Kilburn High Road, and, in the south, the top end of Maida Vale.

If Barclays cannot make a branch with total dominance in such a large area work, then they are incompetent.

There is reason to believe this. Then they should pack it in and move into gyms or bookmaking.

I wrote to their chief executive, Jes Staley, and his office put me on to an apparatchik who sent me a form letter, but excluding the issue mentioned above.

This suggests that either this member of staff doesn’t bother to read a letter forwarded by the CEO or that Barclays are sensitive to this matter and do not know how to respond.

Mr Staley should put in charge of this branch someone who can run a bank, properly work this area which is packed tight with small businesses, and provide a service for us and make some profit for his shareholders.

PETER RUTHERFORD
Pandora Road, NW6