Call for free ATM in town losing last bank machine

Efforts are under way to secure a permanent free-to-use ATM machine in a Yorkshire Dales town after an independent review said that residents must be able to withdraw physical cash.

Barclays announced earlier this month that it planned to remove 132 machines across the UK following a review of its ATM network, including the one at the former Barclays building in Hawes.

However, cash machine network LINK recommended that a free ATM should be provided, because the change would leave the town without one.

Councillor Yvonne Peacock MBE said it would be "dreadful, absolutely dreadful" if there was no free cash machine.

"We don't have always access to cards to be able to use in certain shops and certain areas, plus the fact it's costing the businesses money to have them," the Conservative added.

"So the visitors that come to the area, they desperately need them to be able to have access to cash.

"It is 13 miles (21km) to Kirkby Stephen, and 27 (43km) to Richmond, so just where are we going to be able to get cash from?"

In their report, LINK said the replacement service should normally be provided within three months of its assessment and be operational before the existing facility closed.

Meanwhile, the office of Richmond and Northallerton MP and former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it had received assurances from Barclays that its existing ATM would remain operational until alternative arrangements were in place.

LINK said the replacement service, the location of which has not been confirmed, would be funded through the cash machine network on behalf of its members.

Leyburn and Catterick Garrison are also set to lose their Barclays cash machines, although both towns already have alternative free-to-use ATMs.

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