OKEHAMPTON Jobcentre is to close its doors by the end of March, part of a 'transformation programme' taking place nationally. The decision to close the part-time office was announced last week — Phil Weeks, Devon and Cornwall district manager for Jobcentre Plus said the full range of services would be available to job seekers at its 'nearby' Exeter office. But the news has been greeted with outrage. A spokesman for West Devon Borough Council said members were 'dismayed' by the announcement and felt expecting its residents to travel to Exeter was 'unacceptable and unrealistic'. Last year, when the council was alerted that the offices may close, the authority set up a special group of councillors to look into the situation. Cllr Mandy Govier, chairman of the Jobcentre Plus group, said: 'We are extremely disappointed by the announcement. We feel it is very short-sighted. 'We have serious concerns about the implications for vulnerable people who desperately need these services. Jobcentres are not just about jobs. People need to sign on for income support, incapacity benefit and other services. 'The offices are also a crucial advice centre for people who need disability living allowance, attendance allowance, child, pension and working credits — no consideration has been given to the rural nature of West Devon.' Okehampton mayor Tony Leech said: 'I question the ability of people being able to access the service if it is relocated to Exeter. They say it is "nearby" but it is a 50-mile round trip to Exeter. 'We are a growing and expanding town, people want and need assistance here. Why don't they look at renting a room at the Ockment Centre? 'It is a cost-cutting exercise as far as I'm concerned.' Mervyn Ellis, Devon branch secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, said the move was 'disgraceful'. Mr Ellis said: 'People who live in rural areas, particularly moorland ones, where bus services are thin on the ground, who are going to have to make long journeys into the city, will be particularly badly hit. 'They are going to have difficulty signing on, and fulfulling the criteria they must abide by to get their benefit.' Mr Ellis said the move would be even worse for the most vulnerable jobseekers, those with learning difficulties, the physically disabled or people with mental health problems. 'The PCS's position is to maintain local services for local people — this is definitely a retrograde step,' he said. Geoffrey Cox, MP for West Devon and Torridge, said: 'I am deeply dismayed by this decision. I think it will be very stressful for people living in Okehampton and the surrounding areas. 'Many people looking for work don't have a car and public transport for people living in outlying areas is very difficult.' Mr Cox said people valued face-to-face contact when they needed help and advice and using the telephone or internet would not be as helpful to jobseekers. 'I shall certainly be writing to the regional director for Jobcentre Plus and to the secretary of state. We need to keep these offices open,' he said. A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions confirmed jobseekers would now have to travel to Exeter every fortnight to sign on and attend interviews. The spokesman said staff from the Okehampton office would be redeployed elsewhere. He claimed all views from consultees had been taken into consideration before the decision was taken to close the Okehampton office. He said: 'Jobcentre Plus is improving customer service to all people who are looking for work and claiming benefit, we have to make decisions about which offices are viable. 'That means we have to work with the resources we have so we deliver the best possible service to the greatest number of customers.' He said Jobcentre's business was changing and more people now accessed the service using the telephones and internet.
