Council group hoping to keep CAB in Bridgnorth
A steering group has been set up to try to save a Bridgnorth's Citizens Advice Bureau which is under the threat of closure.
Bridgnorth Town councillors have agreed to liaise with members of Citizens Advice Shropshire to discuss using council-owned buildings or community venues as a base for the charity.
The organisation confirmed last week it was looking at alternative ways of providing services in the town, along with Whitchurch, due to the funding cuts.
Councillor Vanessa Voysey said residents could book appointments at bureau in Albrighton, Craven Arms and Market Drayton, but in Bishop's Castle and Church Stretton the CAB supplied a one-day outreach service, while bases were situated in Ludlow, Oswestry and Shrewsbury.
But she said CAB offices in Bridgnorth and Whitchurch were likely to close by the end of the year.
Speaking during last night's town council meeting, she said: "We could look at using somewhere like Bridgnorth Medical Centre as a place to hold a one-day outreach centre, or James' Hall or even the town council offices."
Councillor Val Gill said: "I think the medical practice would be a good idea because everyone already uses it.
"They may have a room the council could use once a week for the CAB."
Councillor Edward Marshall said it was important a steering group was set up because nobody knew the main reason why the office was closing.
He said: "We may be skirting around the problem because even if we provide an office it might not solve the issue. I would suggest we set something up to see what could be done."
The steering committee, formed by Councillors Hinton, Voysey, Gittins, Baines and Bradshaw, will meet with officials from Citizens Advice. Jackie Jeffrey, chief executive of the charity, said last week the CAB was facing funding reductions, which meant looking at the way services were delivered in the future.
She said: "We are working to find alternative ways of supporting our clients in Whitchurch, Bridgnorth and the surrounding areas, but this may require a totally different way of working.
"We intend to meet with organisations to discuss this situation but currently we are still in a period of consultation with our staff and volunteers."
