A CAFE which provided work for disabled people will be replaced by a tax office.

Kirklees Council this week closed the coffee shop in Civic Centre 1 which has given training to people with learning difficulties for the last 12 years.

Kips Cafe was run by the council’s Realistic Employment for Adults with Learning Disabilities (Real).

The coffee shop will be replaced by an HMRC office.

A regular customer, who asked not to be named, said yesterday they were sad to see Kips Cafe closing. It shut on Wednesday.

The customer said: “It provided an opportunity for people with learning difficulties to get into work.

“I understand that some of them went on to find mainstream jobs because of the experience they gained at the cafe.

“The kitchen was refurbished in the last 12 months.”

She added: “There was a man called Russell who worked there for years. He used to take a trolley round the Civic Centre selling sandwiches.

“Staff from the building were taking him cards and presents this week.”

She added: “It’s disappointing that HMRC is moving into that little spot.”

A council spokeswoman said: “Only one adult with a learning disability chose to access employment at Civic Centre café.

“It has been a part of an employment opportunity for this person who now has a new job in a cafe elsewhere with support from Real. Š

“Real continues to support more than 70 adults with learning disabilities to access paid employment in various roles across the district.

“Another 70 people with learning disabilities take part in the council’s Supported Volunteering Project which helps people to gain new skills, meet new people and make a positive difference in their community.

“We work with colleges, sport centres, private companies and various voluntary and community organisations to support people to access employment opportunities which help them remain independent and in control of their own lives.”

“The former café space will be used partly as an additional reception area to reduce queuing and also to accommodate HMRC.”

Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs will move its enquiry centre from Crown House on Southgate.

The office will be open from 9am to 4pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.