Last week’s post included the unwelcome news that Barclays will be closing its branch in Totnes on June 22.

A sad day for Totnes and for the many customers of Barclays who use that branch.

As usual, the reason for closure are cited is decreasing use, not, of course, mentioning the inconsiderable inconvenience for the bank’s customers.

Following the Bank’s closure of its branch in Ivybridge a year or so ago, my personal shopping habits have changed completely and I have to say that I now rarely venture into Ivybridge, a town which itself is suffering from the proximity to the superstore in Lee Mill and the development of the out-of-town centre nearby.

Totnes has, of course, already lost other banks in the recent past and we have to be thankful that, in both Totnes and Ivybridge, Lloyds Bank is investing in improving its premises.

As a retired employee of the retail bank, I am, of course, supportive of many of the initiatives now available to help day-to-day business transactions but we all know that one size does not fit all.

There are many people I can think of who will be seriously inconvenienced by Barclays’ latest moves to reduce customer service, and I very much regret the bank’s long-standing customers appear to be of such little worth in today’s profit-led world.

In the past, it has been suggested that customers could use the facilities of local post offices to pay in etc but, in the South Hams, we will be aware of the many Post Office branches which have themselves closed recently.

I fear that many of Barclays’ older and maybe less savvy customers may resort to the “bank of under the bed” with the attendant dangers inherent in this.

Barclays’ management says that it as taken into account the alternative ways to bank which are available in the area, and I can only hope that Barclays hitherto loyal customers may consider voting with their feet.

Sue Franklin

Diptford