Petition launched against closure of Huddersfield cash office

Mar 21 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUNDREDS of people signed a petition yesterday demanding that Huddersfield cash office should stay open.

Kirklees Council plans to close the office in Civic Centre 1, which is used by thousands of people to pay bills, including council tax and water charges.

Trade unionist Mick Ryan began collecting signatures against the plan outside the office yesterday.

He said: “We collected 1,000 signatures in the first two hours which I think is very good.”

Earlier this month Kirklees announced plans to close the cash office, which has dealt with 43,000 transactions in 20008/09.

The eight staffed counters will be replaced by automated kiosks next door at the Kirklees Information Point.

The council said the move will save nearly £200,000 in the next two years.

But Mr Ryan thinks the change will lead to a drop in service. The Kirklees Unison assistant branch secretary said: “The cash office is not just about collecting money, it’s about customer care and helping people with any problems. You can’t do that with machines.”

Some of the cash office staff helped collect signatures yesterday during their time-off from work. But Mr Ryan said a Kirklees officer had told the employees not to appear in any pictures in the Examiner.

He said: “Carol Stump told all eight staff on Thursday that if they had their picture taken they would be disciplined for bringing the council into disrepute. I think it’s a disgrace.”