DURSLEY'S Job Centre will close at the end of the month it was revealed this week.

A formal announcement has yet to be made but at Tuesday's meeting of Dursley Town Council a representative from Jobcentre Plus told councillors the closure would take place on March 31.

Jobcentre Plus team leader Gill Annal said: "Closing the Job Centre was never going to be a popular decision. It is not an ideal situation for us but hard decisions sometimes have to be made. It is not a decision that has been taken lightly."

Cllr Brain Marsh asked how Jobcentre Plus expected an unemployed person to travel to another job centre if they did not have their own transport.

"Can you explain how a person from Dursley gets to your Yate office?" he asked. "It is practically impossible knowing where the station is and where the job centre is. It is an awful long way."

Miss Annal said: "It is achievable in terms of access to services in Stroud and Gloucester. While Yate may not be the most convenient option there are other offices that people can choose to visit when they need to see an advisor face to face."

Cllr Marsh, a Stroud district councillor, also asked why the centre was being closed when it was used by people from all over the area because it offered a better service.

Miss Annal replied: "It is very important for the staff in Dursley to know that the quality of service has not been in question. It was not earmarked for closure because of poor service nor as a reflection of staff who work at the job centre.

"It is important that people understand that face-to-face services are not the future of Jobcentre Plus. I am confident that the change in the service will support individuals in their ability to access advice."

Cllr Marsh added: "This was bought up at Stroud District Council. There are 51 representatives and every one of those councillors voted for this job centre to be kept open. You have not listened to them. Fifty-one councillors from different political persuasions cannot be wrong. It is your organisation that is making the wrong decision."

Mayor of Dursley Cllr Timothy Frankau said: "There are people who are out of work and who are very disadvantaged. I think that you should see your way to having an outreach centre so that these people can talk to somebody."

Cllr Geoff Wheeler, who represents Dursley on Gloucestershire County Council, said: "What we are faced with is a complete loss of service. I am very surprised that a decision has been made by a government agency which contradicts other government policies.

"People in Berkeley and Sharpness will find it extremely difficult to get to Stroud. I find it very difficult to understand why a vital service is something we are losing."

The town council agreed to write to Jobcentre Plus to re-iterate their concerns that a job centre was essential in the town and, if the centre was closed, could an outreach worker visit the town to help people who needed face-to-face contact advice.