Citizens' Advice Vital Role Threatened by Council Cuts

Supporters of Lancaster and Morecambe Citizens' Advice Bureaux, which are facing a £20,000 reduction in their budget, are asking for help to stop the cuts.

Lancaster City Council is proposing to cut £20,000 funding from these bureaux as they struggle to find savings and keep council tax rises to government imposed limits. The CAB are urging people to challenge the decision by writing to their local councillors and signing an online petition in protest at the plans.

The Bureaux provide a range of advice especially on employment, housing, debt and benefits and have seen an increase in people needing help in recent times due to the recession, and the cuts will damage their ability to provide them with aid.

"In the current economic downturn the Citizens Advice Bureaux are all the more necessary," said a spokesperson. "The number of repossession orders going through Lancaster County Court has doubled in recent months and there has been a 100 per cent increase in the number of evictions. The Citizens Advice Bureaux offer free, independent and confidential advice which can guide people through such difficult times and help bring about a positive outcome."

• The bureaux are asking everybody to write to their local councillors and MPs and to sign a petition online in support of maintaining their funding at www.ipetitions.com/petition/Save_CAB/index.html. Signatures are needed by 2nd March, so that it can be sent to all councillors before their final meeting.

• Click Here for Local Councillor Information on the City Council web site. You can also write to local councillors via www.writetothem.com. Please note, we're aware many local councillors access to their Council e-mail is erratic: real world letters will have more impact, even if they're just postcards.

Photo: Lancaster and Morecambe Citizens' Advice Bureaux