THE Advertiser can exclusively reveal that as of next week the CAB office in the Kingfisher Shopping Centre will close.

From Monday, February 2 Citizen Advice services for the town will be managed from the CAB office in Bromsgrove.

Interim arrangements will be put in place for residents to access information and advice, while Redditch Council works with Citizen Advice nationally to design a new advice service.

Citizen Advice is providing a small bridging grant to Bromsgrove CAB to enable services to be delivered in Redditch on an outreach basis, pending review and agreement as to the new service.

Bill Hartnett, leader of Redditch Council, said he was extremely disappointed.

“It would appear that, for a variety of reasons, the Redditch CAB in its current form has become unsustainable," he said.

"However, I was pleased to hear that interim arrangements will be put in place for Redditch people to access information and advice, pending the launch of a new service this summer.

“I am keen that the council work in partnership with Citizens Advice to ensure that new service maximises the benefits of the councils own transformation work in order to provide much needed support to people in these continuing difficult times."

He added: "I would like to thank all the staff and volunteers for their hard work and the support they have provided to the people of Redditch over many years."

Redditch MP Karen Lumley said: "I gather that many of the volunteer advice workers at the Redditch CAB office have opted to be involved with the delivery of this new service, and their support is greatly appreciated."

A spokesman for the national Citizens Advice organisation said: "We are working with Redditch Borough Council to transform the service in the town so that it remains in touch with local needs and is able to work as a solution provider with the relevant partners and stakeholders.

"Our vision is that the Citizens Advice service is seen as a key focal point for local communities – the main starting point for finding solutions to problems and a place to find out more about key local issues."

The new service model will deliver advice across Redditch and Bromsgrove, with the hope of placing advice services closer to local communities.

It it hoped the new service will be launched in the summer.

Details of the information and advice services to be made available in Redditch can be obtained from the Redditch Council reception, Redditch library and the national Citizens Advice website in the near future.