Plans to close Crayford Barclays spark anger across the town

Barclays announced last month it is to close its branch in Crayford Road on February 13.

The move will leave the centre of Crayford without a single bank or ATM, as two cash machines at the branch are also set to go.

Joan Miles, 78, walks the 500m to the bank from her home in Crayford Way, where she has lived for 50 years, up to twice a week.

The grandmother-of-two told News Shopper: “I have been with Barclays from the word go and this is the thanks I get.

“Everybody’s up in arms over it.

“If that bank closes I have got a feeling a lot of the little shops around will close.

“There are a lot of elderly people around this way and it’s not that easy to get on a bus.

“There are two branches up in Bexleyheath and one in Dartford – why can’t they just close one of those and leave the one in Crayford?

“The Crayford one is so busy and there’s always a queue at weekends.”

Mrs Miles added: “What am I going to do now there’s no other bank?

“I don’t like using the holes in the wall and I am not computer literate.

“I know a lot of people my age are but it’s never interested me and I have got better things to do with my time.”

The old Martins Bank branch, as it was when Barclays took over in 1968.

Customers will have to travel one-and-a-half miles to Bexleyheath or more than two miles to Dartford, to carry out the 87,000 transactions which currently go through the Crayford branch.

Alternatively they can use the Post Office, where Barclays customers can deposit and withdraw money.

According to Bexleyheath and Crayford MP David Evennett that will put too much pressure on the service, which is not a stand-alone branch and is part of the Mace mini supermarket in Crayford Road.

Mr Evennett said: “I met with representatives of Barclays on November 14 to discuss their plans to close Crayford’s only bank branch.

“I expressed how disappointed I was with their plans, which will cause problems for local residents, businesses and shoppers.

“Their proposed alternative for customers, using the Post Office, has not been thought through properly.

“They are not willing to re-consider despite the very real issues that I have highlighted.”

David Evennett outside the Barclays branch in Crayford Road.

Barclays has been in Crayford since the company took over Martins Bank, and with it their branch in Crayford Road, in 1968.

A Barclays spokesman said: “The way customers undertake their banking is changing as people increasingly use online, telephone and mobile devices.

“In response to this change in customer behaviour we must evolve our business to meet their needs.

“At Barclays in Crayford customer usage has declined by 37 per cent and around 75 per cent of customers regularly use alternative branches, which is why we have taken the difficult decision to close the branch.

“Our colleagues at Barclays in Crayford have been consulted about the changes and will transfer to other branches nearby.

“We hope the range of alternatives including digital banking, nearby branches and Post Office access will help to ease the transition for our customers in Crayford and if any customers have any concerns we would recommend they speak to a member of staff.”