THE Yorkshire Bank at Richmond and HSBC at Leyburn are to close and relocate to banks some distance away with the result that if we wish to avail ourselves of their services we have a long journey to their new location.

It would appear that the decision to move was influenced by the difficult trading conditions that prevail nowadays – trading conditions brought on by the banks’ own wanton profligate prodigal method of handling money.

It can be no coincidence that the severity of Government spending cuts has been exacerbated by the Exchequer’s commitment to provide funds to rescue said banks from bankruptcy.

Now while campaigners fight to save the tattered remnants of our treasured facilities like our hospitals, our community care facilities and our libraries, the banks are deserting our market squares and high streets, leaving large buildings to go derelict.

But surely if these banks desert our towns there is an opportunity for enterprising entrepreneurs to move in and start a new bank: an independent bank run by local people solely for the benefit of the local customers.

I would like to hear comments from the people who operate Yorkshire Bank in Richmond and HSBC in Leyburn - if you were a standalone bank retaining your account holders and customers could you operate an independent bank – could you be a profitable proposition?

I would like to think this letter motivates a healthy discussion among readers and results in a positive result of a local independent, greed-free, sleaze-free and corruption-free bank where there are no banking executive suits who are only concerned in accepting grossly obscene amounts of money in bonuses. In my view, their payments are blatant barefaced theft.

Douglas Garnet Dempster, Leyburn