20/4/2009 - Local Links bring Aspatria closer together

A new one-stop-shop in Aspatria that will bring together the local library and many public services into one convenient place will open next week.

Aspatria Local Links will open in the newly refurbished town library on Monday 27 April at 2pm as a joint venture between Allerdale Borough Council and Cumbria County Council.

The new centre will benefit Aspatria residents and visitors by providing a self-service terminal for people to make direct card payments to the council and a dedicated phone line for enquiries about housing benefit, council tax, recycling, or assistance with filling in forms and setting up direct debits to pay bills. Customers can visit to report local issues such as dog fouling, fly tipping, missing dogs and overflowing litterbins.

Visitors will also be able to access the councils’ internet sites so that people can view online resources such as job vacancies and planning applications.

There will also be far greater access to library services with increased opening hours - from 17 to 25 hours a week - giving an extra eight hours.

Other services hoping to be offered at the centre in the near future include a Citizen’s Advice Bureau drop in groups, Job Centre Plus information, housing benefit and planning application surgeries.

Councillor Barbara Cannon, Cumbria County Council’s acting portfolio holder for communities, said: "It is our duty to respond to the needs of local communities and in Aspatria this has been achieved by both councils working together. 

"It is fantastic that the community has access to public services under one roof and I’m confident Aspatria Local Links will quickly be seen as a valuable community resource. Similar schemes have been launched In Alston and Wigton and both have proved to be very popular."

Councillor David Wilson, Allerdale Borough Council’s Executive member with responsibility for Access to Services, said: "The Aspatria Local Links centre is a perfect case of working in partnership with others and sharing resources in the interests of serving the wider community. 

"This initiative supports Allerdale Borough Council’s objectives to engage better with customers and provide high quality, accessible and efficient services which meet their needs."

ENDS

Media enquiries to Media Officer Chris Little on 01228 226334