Campaigners call for rethink over use of Inverness community room by Barclays

A campaign group has started a petition amid an ongoing row over the use of a community room in Inverness by a banking giant.

Barclays has used the Concourse room at the Spectrum Centre to offer a five-days-a-week service since closing its branch in Union Street in May.

But members of Highland - Palestine are calling for the decision to be reversed, maintaining that allowing a multinational corporation to permanently occupy a large part of the community centre for commercial use is not a good use of the venue.

They also cite the banking group’s investments in companies which produce arms used by the Israeli military which faces accusations of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Anne Thomas, who is the co-convener of the Highlands and Islands Green Party, has voiced similar concerns.

Row over move to open Barclays Local in community room

The petition started by Highland - Palestine is calling on Highland Council and High Life Highland to rethink the decision.

It says having chosen to close down its Inverness branch, Barclays has now added insult to injury by taking advantage of a local charitable venue to cut costs and expand its profits.

The petition states: “We call on High Life Highland and the Highland Council to ensure this decision is immediately reversed, and to continue to provide the Concourse room for local community events.”

Andy Minett, an active campaigner with the group, said members will be writing to High Life Highland to seek a meeting.

“People are very upset and feel it is an inappropriate decision to have made without any consultation as well,” he said.

“High Life Highland is a charitable arm and needs to make money but not in this way.

”With Barclays’ ties to Israel so strong it is quite unethical and it is to deprive people of one of the rooms in the Spectrum Centre.”

A spokesperson for High Life Highland said Barclays Bank was hiring a space at the Spectrum Centre, offering a face-to-face service to local residents during weekdays.

“High Life Highland undertakes a caretaking/stewarding responsibility for the location but all decisions relating to hire and lets are taken by representatives of the Spectrum Centre board with all income going directly to them,” the spokesperson said.

“High Life Highland continues to work and develop the partnership with the board to support the operation of this important city centre venue.”

A Barclays spokesperson said: “As visits to branches continue to fall, with the majority of people preferring to bank online, we need to adapt to provide the best service for all our customers.

“This is reflected at Inverness, where we are delivering new ways to support our customers and the community with options for those who need in-person services.”

The spokesperson said it had worked with the local community to identify a suitable location and have been operating a Barclays Local from May 20 at the Spectrum Centre.

“Barclays Local, is a cashless banking site where customers can meet a colleague face-to-face for banking support, as they would in a branch and without the need to travel,” the spokesperson added.

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