A NEW 24-hour ATM cash machine has been approved for Pickering following occasions when the town’s other machines ran out of money.

The town currently has two ATMs which can be accessed all the time - one at Barclays bank in the Market Place and the other at Harland garage in Malton Road.

The planning application for the new free-to-use Bank of Ireland cashpoint was approved by Ryedale District Council last week for the unit at 7 Market Place, currently Morland’s newsagents and the post office.

The application, which first went in in April, was initially refused.

According to the planning officer’s report, the reason for refusal was that the proposed ATM would not “preserve the special architectural interest of the listed building” and the “harm to the designated heritage assets is not outweighed by the public benefits of the proposal”.

But Pickering mayor Joy Andrews, member of both the town and district councils, said that the lack of ATMs had led to cash shortages in the town.

“As mayor of Pickering I was delighted that district planning officers decided to reconsider their initial refusal for an ATM at the post office,” she said.

“When I heard of the refusal, the two ward members - myself and William Oxley - informed planning of the closure of NatWest bank and the cash machines running out of money the very next weekend.

“It highlighted the real need for at least one more ATM in the town that can be accessed 24 hours a day. Subsequently the planning officers looked again at the application and felt that the degree of harm caused to the listed building and conservation area could be outweighed in this instance by the public benefits of the scheme therefore the report was recommended for approval.

“Having 24-hour access to cash is vital for residents and tourists alike, allowing them to pay for goods within the town as a lot of the independent traders do not necessarily have card facilities.

“There are cash machines within shops in the town but obviously these can only be accessed when the shop is open.

“With the glorious weather we are enjoying at the moment and the wonderful events the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and Pickering in Business are showcasing it is vital that everyone can get cash and allow Pickering to flourish.”

The new planning officer report for the cash point said: “The lack of existing facilities giving access to cash in Pickering which caters for businesses, local people and tourists is considered to be inconsistent with a town of this size and status.”