Preston City Council’s advice and housing teams are moving from their offices on Birley Street.

The city council has announced as part of cost-cutting measures it is centralising these teams into the Town Hall contact centre.

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A £3.6 million savings challenge has been set over the next three years and the council says mothballing the Birley Street offices will save money.

Housing advice, welfare benefits advice and debt advice staff helped 22,000 in the last year.

Councillor John Swindells, Deputy Leader of Preston City Council, said: “Staff in the council’s advice teams and Contact Centre carry out excellent work.

“For customers who need to visit the Contact Centre, they will now be able to carry out all their transactions at the same location, making it easier and a more efficient way of dealing with the council.

“Of course, lots of tasks can also be carried out on the council’s website, recently recognised as 4 stars – the only local authority website in Lancashire to achieve the highest rating.”

The opening times of each of the advice teams are, who move on Monday 7 April, are:

Housing advice team appointments: Monday-Friday 9am-4pm
Welfare benefits team appointments: Monday-Friday 10am-4pm
Debt advice team appointments: 10am-4pm (closed Wednesdays)

Previously the Birley Street offices were open from 8.30am to 4.30pm from Monday to Thursday, and 8.30am to 4pm on Fridays.

The city council recently reduced the hours the contact centre at the Town Hall is available, due to budget restrictions.

Do you use these services? What do you think about the move? Let us know in the comments below