Three Shropshire register offices set to be saved from axe
Three of Shropshire's register offices look set to be saved from the axe after council officials had a change of heart.
The offices in Church Stretton, Wem and Bishop's Castle, which were previously under threat of closure, are set to be replaced with an appointment-only service to operate once a week.
Meanwhile, the opening hours of the Ludlow office are to be reduced from 20 hours per week to 16.
The recommendations made ahead of a Shropshire Council meeting next week also include the current opening hours at the offices in Oswestry, Market Drayton, Whitchurch, Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth remaining the same.
Last May the authority revealed three possible options – making no change, closing the three most under-used offices– Church Stretton, Bishop's Castle and Wem – or closing all offices other than a central one in Shrewsbury.
The preferred option was to see the three rural offices go, saving Shropshire Council about £50,000, with hours at Ludlow reduced, but increased at Bridgnorth, Market Drayton, Oswestry and Whitchurch to compensate. But the council says the recommendations have changed following consultation last summer.
A report by responsible officer Karen Burton says: "Shropshire Council has no option but to look at what services it provides, how and where these services are provided and how much they cost.
"By the end of the six-week consultation period 48 online responses and seven written responses had been received.
"The views of the respondents have been taken into consideration in making the recommendations contained in this report. The main risks identified related to the rurality of some of the communities. These risks have been taken into consideration. All areas currently covered by the service will still be covered."
The future of the register offices is to be discussed at a private meeting in Shirehall on Wednesday.
