Published: June 3, 2007
Campaign to save Burnham-On-Sea job centre is launched in town

A campaign to save Burnham-On-Sea's closure-threatened job centre was launched in the town on Sunday morning (June 3rd).

Jill Shortland, Leader of Somerset County Council, was joined by Burnham's Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate Tessa Munt and local town councillors in starting a new petition outside the job centre in the High Street.

It comes just days after Burnham-On-Sea.com exclusively reported that the Jobcentre Plus office in the High Street is under threat as part of a cost-cutting exercise.

While the Department of Work and Pensions claims no jobs at the centre are at risk since staff would be redeployed to centres in Bridgwater and Weston, it has admitted that a "financial review of services at the centre" is underway to ensure "taxpayers get the best value for money."

Ms Munt slammed the potential closure as "utter lunacy." She added: "Work in the Burnham area is seasonal and wages are not high, so this job centre is a vital lifeline. Furthermore, public transport in the area is not the best and to expect job seekers to travel to Bridgwater or Weston is madness."

And Cllr Shortland added: "To be required to travel substantial distances from Burnham with a sick note if you're on incapacity benefits is simply unacceptable. The only solution would be for taxis to be used at considerable public expense."

Cllr Danny Titcombe added that Burnham and Highbridge has "one of the highest rates of incapacity benefit claimants in the region, which further strengthens the argument not to close this facility."

Cllr Joe Leach, who is overseeing the petition, said: "I have claimed a job seekers' allowance myself in the past and found the services at this centre to be invaluable. This facility is essential."

Statement from Burnham Conservatives on job centre's future:

Conservative councillors from Burnham and Highbridge Town Council issued the following statement about the job centre on Sunday afternoon:

"To close the job centre in Burnham's High Street would be a double whammy for the town, for not only will yet another service be lost to Bridgwater, but its very position in our main shopping street will be yet another blow to those working to achieve regeneration for the town's centre."

"With such a high percentage of the local workforce engaged in seasonal work at the many tourist and holiday ventures within the area, its service to the local population is very much needed."

"Whilst the town council in its fight to keep the job centre open welcomes all support, it is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black when it comes to Mrs Jill Shortland, the leader of the Lib Dem County Council, for they are past masters of closing local services."

"They closed the Social Services headquarters for this area in Victoria Street a couple of years ago and more recently have closed the Resources Centre in Pepperal Road, Highbridge and are going to 'flog it off'."

"With the County Council refusing to re-open the Walrow Bridge to three tonne vehicles, as they can safely do according to Network Rail, they are putting a blight on Market Street in Highbridge and many businesses are struggling and need the services of the job centre."

"Mrs Shortland may also like to know it was pressure by our own MP, David Heathcoat-Amory, which led to the job centre opening following the property's disposal by the old Internatonal Stores."