Barclays bank located in Queensway, Bletchley has reopened following a forced closure as a result of a "peaceful protest" by Greenpeace.
Greenpeace, a non-governmental environmental organisation, is said to have disabled the automatic doors of nearly 100 Barclays bank entrances across the country, including one in Bletchley, meaning the banks were unable to open on Monday (2/3).
The organisation targeted Barclays claiming that it is "the UK's biggest funder of fossil fuels and one of the worst banks in the world for fuelling the climate emergency." According to the BBC, it wants the bank to switch its funding into renewable energy.
As of today (4/3), the Bletchley branch appears to be open as normal.
A picture of Barclays in Bletchley was posted on Facebook yesterday. It showed two statements in the window of the previously closed bank - one from Greenpeace and one from Barclays.
It appears Barclays staff had tried to remove Greenpeace's statement but failed. Below it, there was an updated message from the bank staff apologising for the inconvenience caused.
Local residents took to a community group to share their frustration. One person said: "I've stopped supporting Greenpeace, how can this be helping the environment? Faceless people just cause hardship and expect sympathy."
Another resident added: "So people have to travel to the next nearest Barclays bank? That's good for the environment!"
Barclays recently issued a public statement regarding the protest. A spokesperson said: "We recognise that climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today, and are determined to do all we can to support the transition to a low carbon economy, while also ensuring that global energy needs continue to be met.
"Greenpeace has a view on these issues to which they are completely entitled, but we would ask that - in expressing that view - they stop short of behaviour which targets our customers, and our colleagues, going about their lives in communities around the country."
