Concern in Somerset over Job Centre Plus closures » Communities » 24dash.com

Somerset County Council says it is seriously concerned about the government's plans to reduce the support services available to Somerset people seeking work in the county.

This follows the Government's announcement to close part-time Job Centre Plus offices in the county at Burnham-on-Sea and Chard.

As part of a modernisation programme, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is centralising provision in larger centres locally and nationally.

Somerset County Council voiced its opposition to the two proposed closures during the DWP’s consultation exercise in 2007 and is now concerned about the implications of the Government pressing ahead with these changes against the County Council's advice.

This will result in difficulties for local people in these two parts of the county seeking work and is planned despite the Government signing up to tackling worklessness in its local area agreement with Somerset.

Jill Shortland, Leader of Somerset County Council, said: "Somerset County Council is extremely disappointed about the Government's decision to close these two important Job Centre Plus offices.

"It demonstrates a lack of understanding of the economic and social realities of life in Somerset and is misconceived financially: any savings must be offset against additional costs to the public purse and some of our most vulnerable members of society from lost employment opportunities.

"While Somerset County Council is working with Job Centre Plus in Burnham on Sea to look at alternative provision, we remain deeply concerned about the implications of this decision".