Worry as council centre is to close
A COMMUNITY facility in the Avenues is set to close.
Hull City Council has confirmed the Customer Service Centre in the Newland Building will be closed next month to help sell the whole site.
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CONCERNED: Anna Scott, with her daughters Carla, four, and Amelie, 18 months, outside the Newland service centre. Picture: Peter Harbour
The service is used by people to pay bills, collect forms and report problems.
Anna Scott, a member of Ella Street Residents' Association, said she was disappointed by the news.
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"The council should be trying to reach out to the community," she said.
"You can't exclude members of the community that can't use online services."
She said it is often vulnerable people who need access to face-to-face council services, such as the elderly or disabled people.
Mrs Scott said: "It seems from the outside view, that they're panicking and just closing things down.
"My concern would be who it's going to be sold to and will it be something that's good for the community."
Mrs Scott said she regularly uses the building for Ella Street Residents' Association meetings.
Traders in Newland Avenue are concerned about what will replace the former Newland Primary School.
There had been interest from big retail chains when it was previously on the market.
Dean Webster, owner of Websters Butchers, said: "It would finish off the Avenue if a big name moved in.
"Most of the shop owners would say that the best thing you could with that building is flatten it and make it into a pay-and-display car park."
Wyke Area councillors, who have their committee meetings in the building, were only informed about the definite closure by email. Councillor Mike Ross said: "It's being closed down without proper meaningful consultation with local groups, residents or even councillors.
"I'm sure there'll be organisations who can come forward and put the building to good use for the community but the council may simply sell it to the highest bidder."
The council said the closure decision had been made following consultation with the Monthly Members Disposal Consultation Group.
There are no plans to relocate the Customer Service Centre because of low footfall but the closure will increase staff levels at other customer services.
9 Comments
by Worker111
Thursday, February 14 2013, 1:28PM
“Vic,
Cut to hard and to fast? Are you joking, the debt and the deficit is rising faster than ever.
Where is the money coming from for this 'investment' the country is losing £150 Billion every year.
Public sector net debt was £1,111.4 billion at the end of December 2012, in 2011/12, the debt interest payments on UK debt are anticipated to be £48.6 bn (3% of GDP).
And the Labour solution is to borrow even more money!!
This is the big problem, most of the growth during the Labour years of 1997-2010 was with borrowed money, personal and Government.
So it was an illusionary standard of living that people and the country had become accustemed to, no they don't like it when they have to start living within there means.
The irony is we are still not living within our means, or anything like.
At some point we will, and also have to start paying back over £1 Trillion of debt plus interest.
This is not just a UK issue, but large parts of the Western world, (though not all) who are and will continue to see living standards reduce.
The cuts have only just started, and will get worse, a lot worse who ever is in power. Pretending it won't isn't going to change a thing.
You may not like it, but it is the truth.”
by VicMay
Thursday, February 14 2013, 12:46PM
“@Worker, I guess you have studied economics like I so you'll know the concept of investing in key projects early on can stimulate growth. There were always going to be cuts at every council, whether it be Labour in charge, a, god forbid, Lib Dem Government or Tory. The thing is with the Torys it's been too big a cut and too fast. Front loading the cuts was insane. Dumping a million trained workers on the jobs market was only ever going to hit the school and college leavers with no work experience. The deficit was never a race, but the Tory posh boys had a dream, getting to the next election and saying, that's the worse of it over, things will get better... that cunning plan has gone horribly wrong. What I find harder to forgive is every Lib Dem MP has walked through the Divisional Lobby with the Tories, they sold their souls so Clegg could have his 15 mins of fame. Disgusting.”
by Worker111
Thursday, February 14 2013, 10:49AM
“vic, I must say you like using emotive language.
While this might be inconvenient for some people, I don't think you could describe it as tragic.
We lose about £150b every year, so please tell me how would you go about solving this country's economic mess.”
by hullboi81
Thursday, February 14 2013, 10:46AM
“why not just CALL 300300; or get a bus into town (or walk!)
There is a massive Customer Service Centre in town (with disabled access).
Too many people want spoon feeding on their doorsteps...
Newland Ave is mainly a Student Area... and there are regular Bus routes for the elderly (who get it free - so there is no cost there)
You can still see council Staff FACE-TO-FACE, but you need to make an effort too !
and there is a church, 2xUniversitys and a school at the end of the road for meetings... try using one of them...”
by VicMay
Thursday, February 14 2013, 10:13AM
“Councillor Mike Ross said: "It's being closed down without proper meaningful consultation with local groups, residents or even councillors."
I wonder if Cllr Ross is going to complain to his MPs that voted for the savage cuts that make these tragic decisions necessary? I doubt it, he'll continue sucking up in the hope he will be selected as a Lib Dem MP candidate.”
by clare1975
Thursday, February 14 2013, 10:11AM
“This is not the only centre closing!!! also Walker Street, Preston Road. Ings road will only be open 1/2 days, where are all the people who need help with council tax, benefits, housing etc going to go????? Dont forget the libraries all reducing days/hours, when you need help there will nowhere to go!!!" You cant get help on line because the public computers in the libraries wont be pen to pubic as the building will be shut.......”
by clare1975
Thursday, February 14 2013, 10:08AM
“This is not the only centre closing!!! also Walker Street, Preston Road, Ings roa will only be open 1/2 days, where are all the people who need help with council tax, benefits, housing etc going to go????? Dont forget the libraries al reducing days/hours, when you need help there will nowhere to go!!!”
by Robin4Life
Thursday, February 14 2013, 10:03AM
“Don't worry, the Ella street residents can console themselves with the money they received for displaying their own art down their own street.”
by clare1975
Thursday, February 14 2013, 10:01AM
“They do more than hand forms out, they help with housing benefit and coumcil tax and all sorts of other things, Also they are closing the customer service at Walker Street and preston Road, reducing days/hours of other centres as well as ALL libraries........”