COUNCILLORS in the Ribble Valley will support the campaign launched to fight the proposed closure of Clitheroe’s Jobcentre.

Christians in the town launched a coordinated postcard campaign, with hundreds of cards being sent to churches across the town, while local leaders also voiced their alarm.

At a council meeting earlier this week, vice chair of planning, Sue Bibby, who is a former Jobcentre manager, moved a motion calling on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which confirmed last month that the future of the Lowergate office is under threat as part of a ‘value-for-money’ consultation Coun Bibby said: “We view with regret and dismay another example of the withdrawal of central services to rural authorities, and call for the proposal to be withdrawn and reconsidered.

“The system clearly works as unemployment stays low in Ribble Valley, at one per cent currently.

“This local matching of people to vacancies will not operate in the same way if the service is integrated into Blackburn Jobcentre or elsewhere.”

She continued: “I feel that we, as a council must fight further erosion of services in rural areas, our Post offices have gone, our Police stations have gone and now there is a threat to the Jobcentre, all of which deliver essential services to rural communities.”

The motion, which was passed, was seconded by St Mary’s councillor Kevin Horkin.