Letters: ‘Powers that be have no consideration for people.’
RE your report on the closure of Santander (A&T 21st Mar).
You have already highlighted the fact that many elderly will be impacted. It just shows that the so-called powers that be just have no consideration of the issues/problems their actions have on people’s lives and the unwarranted pressures this creates.
The Santander branch in New Milton is generally very busy, run by exceptional staff who are always very willing to help and solve the personal problems which we often have in handling internet and email issues.
It is very likely that the success of this branch is the real reason for its pending closure, because this means they need to provide the staff to man the daily running of the operation.
Not the fact the company shout about more people are operating mainly online in this expanding digital world.
When will we see these work-cafes, and where will they be located?
Another factor the company seemed to overlook is that New Milton and many of the villages around have large new housing projects being forced upon us, which could produce a larger number of clients.
I assume, despite all our complaints, no action will be taken to reverse this appalling decision, we are only customers who they just do not consider.
K Barrett
Hordle
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IT was concerning to read (A&T 21s March) that yet another bank is to close its doors in New Milton: Santander.
This, without a doubt, involves and upsets so many elderly people, who are not used to doing their banking transactions on a computer or any other techno gadget.
When the NatWest closed down in New Milton some years ago, I wrote to my local MP asking him for help to try to keep the bank open, or at least have a “hub” which we could go to and deal face-to-face with a bank teller and get our business done.
The reply wasn’t very encouraging as he said he hadn’t been in a bank for 11 years, and more or less indicated times are changing, and we should now simply get on with it, and get used to it.
So much help and consideration for the old folk was not forthcoming.
M Hill
Barton
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RE the closure of the New Milton branch of Santander (A&T 21st Mar).
This is a disaster for the residents of New Milton, especially the more elderly and/or less computer savvy among us.
I use the branch regularly to take advantage of the helpful and professional staff, and it is worth noting that there is always a queue of customers to be served, in complete contradiction to the banks’ (all of them) claim that everyone now does their banking online.
It is simply not true!
Steve White
Lymington
