ALTERNATIVE Jobcentre Plus services may not be in place before Dursley Job Centre closes at the end of the month it was revealed this week.

The Gazette reported last week that the Parsonage Street branch would close on March 31 and in an official announcement made by Nigel Manfield, Jobcentre Plus District Manager for Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, on Monday, it was also revealed that the Job Centre would have to open one day a week until alternative services were up and running.

He said: "I announced that the office was earmarked for closure in October last year and since then my staff and I have been listening to the views of local people. As a direct result members of my team have been working with local organisations to establish alternative methods for our customers in Dursley to contact us.

"I am making final arrangements for a local partner to allow us to use their premises. The service will include a free telephone link for customers to make an initial appointment to claim Jobseekers Allowance and to seek work. There will also be the provision of leaflets and other customer information.

"The new arrangements may not be in place before the closure of the office so I have agreed to open the existing office every Tuesday until the new arrangements are in place."

From March 31 the Dursley office will open between 9am-12.30pm and 1.30-4pm on Tuesday offering a general enquires service, a limited advisory service for customers with pre-booked appointments, access to free telephones for job searches and benefits enquires and access to Jobpoints for job searches.

Customers will have to ring Gloucester Social Security office for Incapacity Benefit, Income Support and Social Fund enquiries or to obtain claim forms.

Job enquires will need to be directed at Jobseekers Direct and employers with recruitment needs will have to call Employer Direct.

Customers with enquiries about making new claims for Jobseekers Allowance are asked to contact offices in Stroud, Yate or Gloucester.

Jobseekers Allowance fortnightly job search reviews will be undertaken in other offices and arrangements will be agreed on an individual basis.

Dursley customers, whose claims are administered by Stroud, and who wish to enquire about their payment of Jobseekers Allowance, are asked to call 01453 435275.

Mr Manfield added: "I would also like to remind people that many of our services are already available on-line or via the telephone and we will encourage all those who can, to use these alternatives."