Wilmslow jobcentre earmarked for closure

Unemployed people from Wilmslow could be forced to travel to Macclesfield in order to find work after the Government announced plans to close 78 local jobcentres across the country.

The Wilmslow jobcentre is under threat from closure after the Department of Work and Pensions revealed plans to reform the service in order to save around £180 million a year for the next 10 years.

Plans announced on Thursday, 26th January, include closing the Water Lane site and relocating the service to Macclesfield. A spokesperson for DWP told wilmslow.co.uk that all of the Wilmslow staff will move to the Macclesfield jobcentre, located on King Edward Street.

The Government says the way DWP services are delivered has changed significantly in recent years, with 8 out of 10 claims for Jobseeker's Allowance and 99.6% of applications for Universal Credit being submitted online.

Jobcentres and benefit centres are covered by old building contracts which were signed 20 years ago and are now coming up for renewal. The DWP estate covers around 1.5 million square metres across the country, 300,000 square metres of which it says is under-utilised and could be vacated.

The proposals include merging 78 smaller job centres with larger ones and co-locating 50 other with local government premises whilst 700 existing offices will be retained.

Damian Hinds, Minster for Employment said: "We will always make sure that people have the support they need to get into and progress within work, that's why we are recruiting 2,500 more work coaches to help those who need it most.

"The way the world works has changed rapidly in the last 20 years and the welfare state needs to keep pace. As more people access their benefits through the internet many of our buildings are under-used. We are concentrating our resources on what we know best helps people into work.

"The changes we've announced today will help ensure that the way we deliver our services reflect the reality of today's welfare system."

DWP announced that the planned changes will be made in consultation with staff, the vast majority of whom will have the option to relocate or be offered alternative roles.