A FREE-TO-USE cash machine has been installed in Littlemore after a long campaign by residents.

The new ATM at the Post Office on Cowley Road means people no longer need to travel to Sainsbury’s in Heyford Hill or pay a £2 fee to withdraw cash from another machine on Cowley Road.

Littlemore Parish Council vice-chairman David Henwood said the new ATM – which was installed in August by the new owner of the post office Munawar Iqbal – was a boost to people on low incomes or without cars.

He said: “Littlemore is an area of high deprivation and free access to money is very important to people.

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“Having it in the post office is very convenient for people too because it means people can walk there.

“We have had very positive feedback.”

Last year residents wrote to banks asking them to install a new machine and their campaign was backed by Oxford East MP Andrew Smith.

But Mr Iqbal took the initiative and put in the new ATM after the Post Office was refurbished.

Resident Dorian Hancock said the new machine fulfilled a vital public service.

He said: “The big beneficial point is that they have a 24-hour bank that they can go to whenever they want.

“They can check their balance and they don’t have to go to Heyford Hill whenever they want to withdraw money.

“All the big four banks have been closing small branches so this service is very important.

“I think another big thing about the cash point is people used to have to pay £1.50 a transaction but now they don’t have to.”

Mr Hancock said it was no longer acceptable to have an area of a city like Oxford where people did not have access to a free-to-use ATM.

He said: “We have to remember that we use cash machines now in the way people use mobiles and computers.

“If they are going to the pub they can just go to a hole in the wall and go and enjoy their night.

“During the day mums want something for their kids and they can get the money out as well. It’s a good thing all round.”


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