Bid for town centre ATM faces being turned down

A building society is facing opposition to a plan for a cash machine outside one of its Norfolk branches despite complaints about a lack of access to cash.

Nationwide has applied to revamp its branch in Fakenham, which is in a Grade II listed building.

But North Norfolk District Council planning officers are recommending that permission for the ATM is refused because it would "fail to preserve the historic environment".

The move is at odds with Fakenham town councillors, who are calling for action as there is currently only one cash machine accessible 24/7, at the Tesco supermarket on the edge of town.

In a letter of support for the application, the town council said: "The reality is that the town now has no banks... and consequently no reliable access to cash outside normal trading hours other than through supermarkets.

"This is highly inconvenient for residents, businesses, visitors and vulnerable members of the community who continue to rely on cash transactions."

Liz Vickers, a Conservative district councillor, is also supportive of the plans.

Access to cash is an issue that Jerome Mayhew, Conservative MP for Broadland and Fakenham, has been campaigning on.

In their report to councillors, planning officers said demand for cash had fallen in recent years and a move towards a cashless society had "accelerated" due to bank closures.

Barclays, HSBC, Natwest and Lloyds have all closed their branches in Fakenham.

Officers accepted that a lack of access to cash could harm the town centre as some businesses still depend on it, but the ATM would "obscure features of historical interest" and would harm the listed building.

Another issue is that there is a right of way for traffic outside the building society. Norfolk County Council's highways team said that would be a "large obstacle" to creating an access ramp into the building, which is an additional aspect of the application. A "stopping up order" would have to be imposed, which would end the right of way.

A decision will be made by the district council's planning committee on Thursday.

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