An MP has called for a review of cash and banking services in Bedale amid concerns that residents in the town and surrounding villages are being left with inadequate access to banking facilities.
Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton, has written to LINK, the organisation responsible for ensuring communities have access to cash, challenging its findings for Bedale and Kirby Misperton and seeking assurances about a replacement cash machine in Helmsley.
The intervention follows a series of assessments carried out by LINK after branch closures and concerns about access to cash in rural communities.
In Bedale, LINK previously concluded that no additional cash services were needed following a request from the community.
However, Mr Hollinrake said the assessment failed to adequately reflect the town’s role as a service centre for surrounding villages and farms.
In his letter, the MP highlights concerns raised by Bedale’s postmaster, who says the Post Office handles cash transactions for more than 2,000 regular customers.
Mr Hollinrake questioned LINK’s assessment that a bank branch could be reached by bus in less than 30 minutes.
He said: “In practice, once the return journey, the wait for a bus and the time needed to do their banking are taken into account, a single visit can easily take well over an hour.”
He added that many residents must first travel into Bedale from surrounding villages before beginning their onward journey.
The MP also raised concerns about the reliability of the town’s cash machines, following confirmation from LINK that local ATMs had experienced faults.
Elsewhere, the MP has welcomed LINK’s recommendation for a replacement ATM in Helmsley following the closure of the Barclays machine in Market Place.
However, he has requested assurances that the new machine will be free to use, centrally located and installed before any remaining Barclays services close.
In Kirby Misperton, Mr Hollinrake has challenged LINK’s conclusion that the closure of the ATM at Flamingo Land has not left a gap in cash provision.
He said the machine served not only seasonal visitors but also year-round residents and villagers, some of whom do not drive or use online banking.
He has asked LINK to reconsider its decision and explore whether the machine could remain open or be transferred to another operator.
Mr Hollinrake said: “Access to cash still matters in rural North Yorkshire. Many people don’t drive, don’t bank online and rely on cash for everyday things, and local businesses depend on it too.”
The MP has requested a meeting with LINK to discuss the concerns affecting all three communities.
LINK told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that its role was to ensure that consumers and businesses could continue to access cash free of charge for as long as it is needed.
A spokesperson added: “We are pleased to have recommended a new ATM for Helmsley and are now working with an operator and the local community to bring the service into operation as quickly as possible.
“The local MP has appealed LINK’s decision not to recommend any additional services in Kirby Misperton.
“As part of our established appeals process, we will carefully consider all the information submitted to ensure that we have reached the right conclusion.
“LINK carried out an assessment of cash access in Bedale in March 2026 and remains confident that local residents and businesses can access the cash services they need through the existing Post Office and ATM network.”
Efforts to protect access to cash and face-to-face banking have become a major issue across North Yorkshire, with campaigns in Richmond, Stokesley, Leyburn and Hawes following the closure of high street bank branches and cash machines.
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