TRADE unions are set to meet Clitheroe as part of their campaign against the proposed closure of the town’s Jobcentre.

The meeting will take place at 7.30pm on Monday in St Mary’s Centre in Church Street.

It comes more than a week after bosses at the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed that the future of the Lowergate office is under threat as part of a ‘value for money’ consultation.

Ian Gallagher of Blackburn TUC said “The Department of Work and Pensions consultation exercise on the proposed closure of the Jobcentre lasts a mere four weeks and ends on October 7.

“If the closure goes ahead, members of the public who currently use Clitheroe Jobcentre would have to travel to Blackburn.

“The DWP says this is only ‘11 miles away with good transport links’. This ignores anyone who lives to the east of Clitheroe town centre.

“The proposal also has implications for the wider issues of how public services are maintained in rural areas and of how smaller towns like Clitheroe can remain viable.”