By Alan QuickTHE people of Crediton have expressed anger after the announcement that Mid Devon District Council is to look at closing its Crediton Area Office with effect from April 1, 2016.

Not only has the announcement been met with anger, Crediton Mayor and district councillor Frank Letch and fellow district councillor, Bob Wright, said they are “furious” about the Crediton office closure plan, adding that that have launched a campaign to fight the proposed closure.

MDDC chief executive Kevin Finan has written to councillors about the plans, which could see the two members of staff at the Crediton office being placed “at risk” of redundancy.

Other MDDC staff reductions are also proposed and include one member of staff from Electoral Registration, one part-time member of staff dealing with communications and one part-time member of staff from economic development.

Mr Finan told councillors: “Following the detailed service review carried out over the summer to identify areas for budget reduction, a number of reductions have been identified, some of which unfortunately involve staff redundancies.”

He added: “These budget proposals and staff reductions will be brought to cabinet at their meeting on November 19 as we tackle the expected deficit for 2016/17.”

’A MOVE TOO FAR’

The Mayor of Crediton, Councillor Frank Letch, said: “This is a move too far.

“Mid Devon District Council has closed many of the public toilets in the town, stopped sweeping the pavements, wants to close many of the play areas and charge us for emptying bins by forcing us to pay £47 garden tax or buy rolls of bags for £13.

“The facility offered by the MDDC having an office in the town is essential.

“People go to the Post Office just a few doors away and then go directly to the council office, for example, to pay their rents and Council Tax.

“The closure will have a significant effect on individuals and businesses.”

Cllr Wright said that the office closure would affect not only residents from the town but also many of those who live in outlying villages and areas.

“Many people will not be able to go to Tiverton if they have a query and some do not have access to the internet or the ability to use it.

“This will have a significant effect on the elderly.

“How, for example, will people be able to buy bin bags? There is nowhere else in the town where they are available.”

Messrs Letch and Wright have already drawn up a petition against the proposed office closure and are to ask Crediton Hamlets Parish Council to join their campaign to prevent the office closure because they say it would “equally impact on the area around the town.”

A delegation of Crediton Town Councillors, including Mr Letch, and Crediton Town Clerk will be meeting with Mr Finan next week to discuss this and other issues concerning MDDC and Crediton.

1,500+ A MONTH

Records show that more than 1,500 enquiry visits are made to the Crediton council office a month, whether the enquiry relates to environmental health, housing, benefits, council tax, building control, planning, waste, environmental services, corporate services or to ask questions about non-MDDC issues.

MDDC confirmed that 15,000 payment transactions were completed from the office in 2014/15, of which 9,000 were made by 2,000 repeat customers (7,900 unique customers).

Also, 16,400 enquiries (of which some were multiple enquiries about different services and 3,700 were not about MDDC services).

MDDC says that staff and operational costs to run the office amount to £154,000 a year.

SAVINGS

Mr Finan added: “The council needs to make significant savings in response to year-on-year reductions in central government funding and to continue to keep council tax as low as possible.

“We are currently consulting on a small number of staff redundancies and the proposed closure of the Crediton office.

“While we appreciate this is a valued service locally, we cannot continue to justify the costs of running the Crediton office for the relatively small number of customers who use it.

“We are undertaking a detailed analysis to make sure that all our services can be offered in alternative ways and that no groups of customers are unduly disadvantaged.

“For example, payments can be made at the nearby Post Office, by Direct Debit, online or by telephone.

“We have no immediate plans to close the building. Existing tenancy agreements with other organisations will remain in place while we discuss with Crediton Town Council and others the best options for the future of the building for the people of Crediton.

“We will not be opening another office in the town. Recycling bins and bags will continue to be available at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre and we are looking at other possible outlets in the town.”

After the “Courier” broke details of the proposed closure, our social media sites have been filled with comments.

Martin Woodgates said: “If Tiverton has its way it would close the whole of Crediton!” and Di McKnight said “Tiverton doesn’t care!”.

Siobhan Roberts said: “Is everything helpful closing in Crediton, and yet it is supposed to be the best place to live, not if we have nothing left.”

Clare Duthie said: “If they close it then how am I supposed to pay my council tax?” and Ade Webb said: “With the internet so much can be achieved on line”.

• What do you think about the plan to close the council payment and enquiry office at Crediton? Do you think it will have a detrimental effect?

If you have a view, why not share it with fellow “Courier” readers?

Send a letter, suitable for publication, to the Editorial Manager, “Crediton Courier”, 102 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LF or email: [email protected] .