Fenland @Your Service shops in March and Wisbech are under-threat of closure

A Fenland councillor has raised concerns that proposals to close the district council's final two @Your Service shops is a 'done deal' ahead of a members' seminar tomorrow (31).

Wisbech Waterlees Ward Councillor Virginia Bucknor said she has been told that staff at Wisbech library have been "preparing space" to accommodate the town's @Your Service facilities which look set to run along similar lines to those in Chatteris and Whittlesey, which saw the closure of their shops five years ago.

The March @Your Service premises are also under-threat with suggestions that will move to the town's library off City Road.

Coun Mrs Bucknor is also upset that reports on the proposals have not been set to members before tomorrow's seminar which will set out the plans to councillors.

She said: "I have asked for the paper work so we can read it and take it in properly before we go to the meeting . It is not good being presented with a report on the day as you don't have time to read it before you are asked to discuss it and make a decision.

"I'm also concerned this looks like a 'done deal' before it is even discussed, as staff at the town's library have been preparing space for it. In order to accommodate the @Your Service facilities the library space is going to have to shrink, and I'm also worried about a lack of private rooms where people can talk confidentially.

"I'm not sure how many councillors have been in the Wisbech shop, but it is always busy and I have asked for a footfall figure. I am also concerned that there is talk of cutting library opening hours, which could affect the @Your Service hours too."

A council spokesman said: " The current leases on the @Your Service one stop shops in March and Wisbech come to an end in July and September of this year respectively.

"Members agreed that the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) should seek to make savings following the end of the leases and therefore we are working with Members to identify alternative venues to ensure the continuity of the service.

"There is no more information than that at present, although a member seminar to discuss the issue is scheduled for January 31."