Rochester High Street is set to get a free 24-hour cash withdrawal service based at the Visitor Information Centre.

Since the last two remaining banks – NatWest and Lloyds – closed, the town centre has been without a non-charging ATM available 24-hours a day for 18 months.

The shutdown of NatWest in June 2017 and Lloyds in April 2018 angered some customers and traders who felt Rochester needed the counter facility and bank machines.

While paid-for devices were opened at some shops, the nearest free 24/7 one is at Rochester railway station. Alternatively, the nearest other branches are in Strood and Chatham.

Sarah Tranter, chairman of Rochester City Centre Forum, welcomed the proposal to instal a machine outside the centre.

Currently, customers can use the facility inside, but only during normal working hours.

There is also a banking service in the post office housed in Payden's chemist in the High Street.

Mrs Tranter said: "I know you can't tell the banks what to do, but it's ridiculous that there are banks in other towns in Medway and not in Rochester where we have a lot of visitors."

The Royal Bank of Scotland announced it was to close NatWest in December 2016 after a survey revealed a significant drop in people using the counter service and an increase in online banking.

Kelly Tolhurst, Rochester and Strood MP, launched a campaign against the decisions, writing to the chief executives of both banks.

Miss Tolhurst, a customer, said that it was a "short sighted" move, particularly with the prospect of up to 30,000 new homes being built in the area by 2035.

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