Huddersfield cash office protest gets support

May 6 2009 By Barry Gibson

CAMPAIGNERS braved the rain to collect hundreds of signatures against a cash office closure.

Trade unionists held a protest outside Civic Centre 1 yesterday.

The Unison members are campaigning against Kirklees Council plans to close the cash office, which was used by 43,000 people last year to pay bills including council tax and water charges.

The council plans to save more than £200,000 over the next two years by replacing the eight staffed counters at the cash office with automated kiosks next door at the Kirklees Information Point.

Darren Crowe, Unison shop steward at Huddersfield Library, collected 230 signatures against the plan in just over an hour.

He said: “It’s gone well. The majority of people have signed and they are shocked at the plan to close the cash office.”