Briton bricks up bank to protest loan rejection

LONDON - A businessman in Britain bricked up the front door of a bank after he was turned down for a loan.

Cameron Hope, 59, carried out the protest after his request for a loan to expand his business was rejected.

The Daily Express reported Monday that Hope used blocks to build an 8 feet by 4 feet wall across the main door to the bank in Westbourne, Bournemouth, Dorset.

Other business owners also joined him. They said they too have been denied loans.

The protesters carried placards that said “Robbed by the banks we own” and “Make banks lend”.

“We blocked the doorway as a way of saying that the banks are open but the safe is shut,” Hope was quoted as saying.

“I wanted to borrow some money for a new development but was told ‘no, maybe next year’. I wanted to borrow 40,000 pounds on a property that I already own but the bank tried to charge me a 7,000 pounds arrangement fee,” he said.

“Some of the banks are even owned by the taxpayer and still they won’t lend…This protest is saying enough is enough and the government needs to step in and make the banks lend.”

The wall was taken down after two hours after the police warned the protesters they would be arrested.