New cash machine installed in response to loss of two Sleaford bank branches

Sleaford Postmaster Lee Taylor, who recently opened a new temporary Banking Hub with the backing of Cash Access UK, has now overseen the installation of a free-to-use cash machine at the Sleaford Indoor Market, which he also runs, on Southgate.

Cash Access UK is an organisation set up by the main UK banking companies, responsible for organising Banking Hubs to maintain public access to cash and banking services in communities that have lost most of their high street banks, such as Sleaford.

Lee explained that as well as setting up the new Banking Hub in Millstream Square under his supervision, Cash Access UK also required a new cashpoint to be put in place at a convenient location in the town, something he was keen to see ahead of the bank closures.

After considering the options, they agreed to fit it in the frontage of the Sleaford Indoor Market on February 20.

Lee said: “We don’t know if there will be one at the Banking Hub when its permanent location is decided – they are still looking at various suitable options, but we are having discussions about having an ATM at the Post Office in Riverside Precinct as well eventually.”

They opted to put the cash point at the indoor market as it is a more permanent base, ideally situated on Southgate, just a few yards away from the Halifax Bank ATM which will be lost when it closes.

Lee said security measures have been put in place to minimise potential damage to the cash machine and their shop frontage, with further measures proposed.

He said shoppers are already making use of the new service. “People were trying to use it from the moment it was installed – before there was any cash in it,” he said, “So we had to put a sign on it! But it has had a really positive response.”

Meanwhile he said the Banking Hub has been getting steadily busier as customers prepare for the loss of the Lloyds branch on Northgate and Halifax on Southgate on March 12.