Readers have reacted with anger at news that Redditch Council is to close three One Stop shops across the town.

On Monday, the Advertiser reported that the council had decided to close the doors on its offices in Woodrow, Winyates and Batchley on April 1, resulting in a saving of £60,000 a year.

The council reassured residents there would not be “a reduction in services”, claiming people could access services though its website and or via town hall staff.

It said that over the last three years there had been a reduction in 60 per cent of customer

enquiries to the offices and 85 per cent of these visits were to pay for council services.

They added that the implementation of the Allpay system for rent and council tax, means there’s more locations and opening times for people to access to complete their business.

But commenting on the Advertiser's Facebook page, James Aldridge said: "I visited the Town Hall to discuss a Council Tax bill and they had removed all the desks and advisors. "They told me to use a phone and when I did nobody was 'available' to answer my enquiry. "Absolutely appalling service. Now they are closing the 'One Stop shops' knowing very well that this will affect the elderly, disabled and people in financial difficulty."

Sarah Cattell agreed: "Oh so the council think they can insult our intelligence by saying it’s not a reduction of services, of course it’s a reduction in services. People can no longer access these services locally, they’ve got to go into town now. It’s cost cutting and centralisation pure and simple but if people vote Tory this is what they’ve got to expect no good moaning now."

Julian Prouse said: "Just one little point. They say that the staff in the Town Hall are very good at helping people that by phone or in person. I know that some of the people that use the one in Winyates do not have the money to get a bus ticket to go to the town hall."

And Jodie Rose Richards said: "It isn't just about the physical action of paying bills. The One Stops do more than that and if anything could have provided access to even more services. "Those who aren't on the internet will have to find other ways around accessing and paying for council services in future which means getting on a bus, walking or driving to the Town Hall. It also means less people will be going to the shopping centres at Woodrow, Winyates and Batchley."