A MARKET town which was down to just one free cash machine following the closure of a high street bank is to soon have a second machine installed after a campaign by a local councillor.

Cllr John Blackie said that since the closure of the HSBC last year, Hawes had not been sufficiently served because the other cash point in the town had been out of use several times.

But now a free, round-the-clock, seven-days-a-week Cash-Zone machine is set to be installed in April – meaning residents will no longer be left unable to withdraw cash in the town where a number of local independent businesses do not accept card payments.

The HSBC branch in Hawes was closed down last October, leaving the next closest branch in Leyburn, some 17 miles away.

However that is also closing in June, leaving Hawes stranded some 25 miles away from the HSBC branch in Settle.

Cllr Blackie pointed out: “Since October the last remaining 24-hour cash machine in Hawes, at Barclays Bank - which like the Barclays branch in Masham only opens three days a week - has broken down several times leaving a community without access to cash once the Post Office closes.

“Hawes is very heavily dependent on its status as a nationally renowned key tourist centre, and with many of its small businesses that serve visitors not equipped with chip and pin machines, the availability of 24/7 cash in circulation fuels the local economy.

“In November the Barclays Bank cash machine was out of commission for 10 days.

“There were more than 300 callers a day at the Hawes Post Office using debit cards for cash withdrawals, and on a Saturday morning when we were open for just three hours there were 200 customers alone.

He added: “This is really excellent news for both local people and visitors alike, and of course our local businesses in Hawes as well.

“We were taken aback by the demand for cash last November, and recognise how important it is to have it available all day, every day.

“Once I found out by coincidence that Masham had been provided by HSBC with a 24/7 cash machine when their branch had been closed, I was not prepared to give up pursuing HSBC and the chase has paid off handsomely.

“It is to the credit of HSBC and Cardtronics that they have responded so quickly to our needs, and we must record our thanks that they have done so with good grace.”

The new CashZone machine will be supplied free of charge and then regularly filled and serviced by Cardtronics.