WORK has started on a roof leak which has restricted access to a cash machine for several weeks in west Dorset.

Residents have spoken of their frustration at the lack of a working ATM inside the Co-op store in Beaminster Square.

The cash machine was the only one in the town after a major incident in 2018 when thieves used a stolen tractor to haul another cashpoint from a wall.

The Co-op ATM has been out of order because of a leak in the roof of the store as the store waits on a scaffolding license from Dorset Council to fix the problem.

Beaminster resident Karel Herman, from Hogshill Street, told The News in June that several businesses in the town only accept cash, adding the lack of an ATM has been detrimental to trade.

Mr Herman said that during a period of heavy rain in July, a customer in the Co-op 'noticed sparks' coming out of the machine. 

He added: "Action was to put up barricades inside the Co-op and have an electrician shut down the electric locally while the shop remained open to customers.

"One of the three takeaways that operate only in the evening mentioned that the situation is really bad due to the difficulty to access of cash by customers.

"Considering [it] is the holiday season and that there are a considerable amount of holiday lets in Beaminster, there is a significant customer base for takeaways.

"Co-op staff are very friendly and helpful however increasingly annoyed with the procrastinating of the repair of the roof in order to have the ATM fixed."

A spokesperson for the supermarket chain confirmed that permission for the scaffolding has been approved, and works have recently started at the store. 

"Co-op is committed to providing added services to serve and support its communities, including access to cash," they added.

"We recognise that a cash machine provides a vital service locally, and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

"To fix the ATM permanently, permission was required to erect scaffolding on the pavement to investigate and fix a leak which has affected the operation of the machine over recent weeks.

"Cashback is available in the store throughout its extensive opening hours [7am-10pm daily].”

A spokesman for Dorset Council said: "We can confirm that the scaffold licence was granted on the same day as we received the application."

Cashzone was contacted by The News for a comment.