PEOPLE power has won the day with Kirklees councillors deciding to allow a cash machine to be installed in Kirkburton.

OK, not the world’s largest issue, but it proves that if people take the time and trouble to protest about something it can make a difference.

And another important point to note is that the decision was made by Kirklees councillors against the advice of their officials.

The council staff had reckoned the cash machine would be an inappropriate development in a conservation area and could cause road safety problems if people parked next to it or a queue formed and passersby would have to walk into the road.

But after visiting the site the councillors saw for themselves that such fears were unfounded and parking was not an issue. And with 160 people signing a petition in favour of the cash machine, it seems the public need was greater than conservation area issues.

After all, how much money would people have to spend to keep getting in their cars to travel to the next nearest cash machine and then there’s the cost to the environment.

A commonsense decision all round and one that shows that the councillors, not Kirklees officials, do have the final say.