CUSTOMERS will be able to pay electricity bills at Accrington town hall following the closure of the Norweb shop in the Arndale centre.

Hyndburn Council has negotiated a deal with Norweb to collect electricity accounts.

Alterations are beginning this weekend to create a separate electricity counter within the council's collection hall.

It is hoped the council-staffed counter will be open for business from Monday, September 9.

The cash collection facility is not costing the authority anything and it expects to make a small profit.

Bill Hamblett, head of revenues and IT, said: "The facility is the same as would be available to Norweb customers at the Norweb shop.

"The only difference is the counter will not be open on Saturdays."

Customers will be able to buy meter cards and there will be two phones for people to ring Norweb direct with inquiries.

Norweb are in the process of drawing up a letter to send to all customers, telling them about the new counter. Councillors on the policy and resources committee welcomed the alternative facility for people to pay bills.

But Coun Sheelagh Delaney said: "We don't want people to think by doing this we are condoning the closure of the showroom.

"We are sad to see it go but fortunately can provide a service enabling people to pay their accounts with us," she added.

Coun Bernard Dawson said: "I think we are letting Norweb off the hook but I can understand why we are doing it.

"It's they who are withdrawing the service.

"They should be providing it, not us," he said.

Council leader George Slynn said the authority had opposed the closure and lost.

It was now responding to provide a customer service.

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