York to get new cash machines to make up for an ATM shortfall

York is to get at least one new cash machine direct from the network provider after it was identified as an area in need.

LINK, the main ATM network, is to install a new machine in one city suburb, with possibly more to follow.

Under a pilot scheme which launched in August, LINK began directly commissioning machines in needy areas, rather than relying on banks and other businesses to install and run them.

Now it is extending the pilot six more sites which lack access to either a free to use ATM or cash through the Post Office counter.

One of those is York. It will be installed among the shops on Garfield Terrace off Leeman Road towards the end of the year.

More cash to come?

A spokeswoman for LINK said more might follow:

• This is an extension of the original pilot, which we will be continuing to roll out.

  LINK will run a competitive procurement process to have ATMs installed in these locations during 2019.

  In the future, any retail centre that loses free access to cash will have it replaced by LINK via a competitive procurement process.
  

As well as York, cash machine money is being made available in Deal and Margate; Middleton, Greater Manchester, Wilmslow, Cheshire, and Ebbw Vale Blaenau Gwent.

LINK CEO John Howells said: “LINK is determined to defend free access to cash across the UK in the face of very rapidly declining cash use.

“Today’s action will protect consumers whilst much needed industry reforms to move to a more sustainable utility infrastructure take place.”