WE COMMENTED yesterday on how people power had blocked plans to open a new nightclub in Oxford and expand another.

Today we have another example where the voice of residents has been heard loud and clear.

The Royal Bank of Scotland had decided that under its guidelines, the people of Blackbird Leys did not qualify for a free-to-use cash machine.

This was because they lived within one kilometre of machines at Boots and Tesco at Cowley.

They would have to pay £1.75 for each transaction if they withdrew money near their homes.

Not surprisingly, the decision angered residents who, backed by Oxford East MP Andrew Smith and the Oxford Mail, challenged it.

Within a week, the bank has changed its mind. Blackbird Leys will get its free machine after all.

As we pointed out last week, the bank was behaving as if it owned the money it was giving out.

It doesn't - it belongs to the customers and it was absurd, as well as unjust, to charge them to get their hands on their own money.

The banks make enough profit to give everyone free banking everywhere.

The Royal Bank of Scotland deserves praise for acting so speedily to right a wrong.

We hope it has realised that sticking rigidly to guidelines, particularly when you have vociferous folk like those at Blackbird Leys, is just asking for trouble.