By Chris Roberts and Ryan Merrifield

FAIRFORD now has a new 24-hour cash machine after going without any for more than six months.

After the closure of the town’s Lloyds Bank branch in November and the ram raid on the Shell garage on London Road on January 10, the town had been without a 24-hour ATM.

But now, thanks to Ben Simons, who runs Londis, the town once again has a ‘hole in the wall’ which began operating last Thursday.

In May, Cotswold District Council (CDC) approved an application for an ATM to be installed outside the London Street shop, which opened last Thursday (July 6).

Fairford Town Council have supported the initiative, including installing 24/7 CCTV coverage along London Street.

Ben has also installed metal bollards in front of the cash point to protect it from possible ram raids.   

“It has taken a while to get this far with lots of red tape to go through, but I am really pleased that Londis can provide this much needed facility for Fairford and its many visitors,” he said.