PROPOSALS to reduce face to face services at council offices are being discussed.

Shropshire Council proposes to reduce the number of days staff at its main offices - including Whitchurch and Oswestry - are available to directly support customers after the number of people using the service dropped from 70,615 in 2013/14 to 33,079 2017/18.

Under the proposals, there would be no face to face service at several smaller offices, including Ellesmere and Wem.

Cllr Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for corporate and commercial support, said: “Whilst we recognise that some residents need local access to services, we have to find ways of achieving this on much-reduced budgets.

“In preparation for the consultation we have looked critically and sensibly at the times we have staff present in our offices. We need to make sure that we provide value for money, whilst continuing to be fair to our customers.

People could still be able to speak to a customer services adviser by telephoning the Customer Service Centre between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

A spokesman said that council would also try to maintain its self-service telephones linked to this centre, as well as free to use public computers wherever it can.

Cllr Charmley added: “Currently, these are simply proposals and no decisions have yet been made. We’d really like to hear your thoughts.”

Other offices that would lose face to face services under the proposals are Albrighton, Bishop’s Castle, Broseley, Church Stretton Town Council and Church Stretton Health and Well-being Centre, Cleobury Country Centre and Shifnal

The consultation on Friday, August 24. During this time there will be information at each of the council’s customer service points explaining the proposals and inviting people to comment.

For more information, visit shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved/customer-service-opening-hours-review-2018/