CASH MACHINE BACK AT OLD POST OFFICE

The re-establishment of a cash machine has been branded a "poke-in-the-eye" for Post Office bosses.

The hole-in-the-wall at Huttons newsagents in Marsden Road, WGC, was removed following the closure of the post office counter there in November.

But on Thursday, residents, councillors and post office campaigners gathered for the official unveiling of a new ATM, which has been provided by Hatfield-based company Bank Machine.

Dr Dennis Lewis, who formed a council of war to fight the closure of the branch, said: "This is a happy day indeed that makes up for some of the damage inflicted by Post Office Ltd in closing our post office and its associated services."

He added, "I hope that the machine runs red hot all day every day."

The hole-in-the-wall was opened by Welwyn Hatfield deputy mayor Kim Langley.

She told the Welwyn & Hatfield Times: "I love communities.

"I think communities are very important and it is nice to celebrate an opening of a cash machine with a lovely party of people from this community."

Lib Dem councillor Tony Skottowe, who represents Handside, said he was "chuffed to bits" at the opening.

"It is a very positive day for Handside," he said.

"I am hoping very much the amount of usage will exceed what it was before."

He added: "It is a nice poke in the eye for the post office."

Stephanie Pridmore, sales director of Bank Machine, said: "It is important to have one here because some people have not got cars.

"It is so nice that they can come here and use the machine."

She added, "It is good to give something back to the community."

The cashpoint is free to use.

-ENDS-

CASH MACHINE LAUNCH PARTY

SIR - I write apropos your article in this week's Welwyn & Hatfield Times regarding the most welcome installation of a cash machine (ATM) outside huttons in Marsden Road.

This will replace the one removed by Post Office Ltd when it infamously closed the Handside Post Office in November last year.

The new ATM will be 'launched' tomorrow, Thursday, March 12, at 2.30pm by the deputy mayor, councillor Kim Langley.

And to celebrate this happy event Richard Edlin, manager of Huttons, will be pushing the boat out.

All Welwyn Garden citizens are invited to join my Council of War on this happy occasion; especially residents of the Handside area.

Richard tells me that first-comers may sup on Champagne (in paper cups!) but later visitors will need to be content with fruit juice.

But we hope there will be sufficent biscuits for all!

I am sure your readers will be as delighted as I am that the new ATM is being installed by a local firm, Bank Machine Ltd, of Beaconsfield Road, Hatfield. So we are doing our bit to sustain the local economy - in sharp contrast to Post Office Ltd which has cut the heart out of hundreds or even thousands of local communities with their infamous post office closure programme!

Ron Delnevo, managing director of Bank Machine, told me: "We are committed to ensuring access to cash for all consumers.

"When banks remove cash machines from locations such as this they don't realise the effect they have on people.

"While we install cash machines all over the country, it gives me great personal satisfaction to be able to support our local community and make people's lives a little easier."

Good for him, I say!

Dr Dennis Lewis, Chairman, Post Office Council of War, The Links, WGC.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

• Bank Machine created the UK's independent ATM market ten years ago and now has over 2,500 cash machines in locations including cinemas, garage forecourts and retail outlets - ranging from Selfridges to convenience stores.

• Bank Machine has over 500 free-to-use ATMs installed in, for example, NHS hospitals, military bases, Universities and low income areas.

• Based in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Bank Machine (a division of Cardtronics Inc.) now has nearly 100 staff.

• For further information about Bank Machine, please visit its website (www.bankmachine.com) or contact Matt Flanders at Quintus Public Affairs on 0207 340 6290 / email matt.flanders@quintuspa.com