UNEMPLOYED people in the Stewartry are being forced to make trips to Dumfries for benefit check-ups. Jobcentre Plus has removed their facility from Castle Douglas, which also provided details of what jobs were available. It follows on from the closure of Castle Douglas Jobcentre in 2006 and leaves the Stewartry without any sort of Jobcentre facility. The situation only came to light at a council meeting last week, with members expressing their concern at the move. But a spokeswoman claimed the service in Castle Douglas was “little-used” and some people will be entitled to reclaim their travel expenses. The Stewartry has been hit by a number of jobs blows recently. In May 2009, Milk Link announced they were shutting their creamery in Kirkcudbright at the cost of 121 jobs. And earlier this year, Buccleuch Foods closed their meat processing plant in Castle Douglas with 35 jobs going. Until recently the people made redundant could use some Jobcentre Plus facilities in the Castle Douglas customer service centre. That operated as part of an agreement after the closure of the town’s Jobcentre five years ago. However, this arrangement has recently come to an end. Jane Maitland told fellow councillors of the news at last week’s Stewartry area committee meeting. She had only found out because she had been speaking to someone from Auchencairn who was looking for information about jobs and was surprised to learn he was going to Dumfries rather than Castle Douglas. Councillor Maitland told the News: “The idea is to make it easy for people to get jobs information, so to withdraw the service from Castle Douglas without telling anyone is disturbing.” Councillor Peter Duncan added: “I said it was a big mistake to close the job centre in Castle Douglas and it is doubly disappointing that no agreement has been reached to provide some sort of outreach service.” And Abbey councillor Rob Davidson said: “You can’t serve the region from just Dumfries and Stranraer. We should be making it easier for people who want to get back to work, not harder.” A spokeswoman for the Department of Work and Pensions said: “The service was little-used and our advisers can deliver a better and more productive service from our office in Dumfries. “Where we ask customers to meet with us at one of our offices we will reimburse reasonable travel expenses, other than for attendance at Jobseeker’s Allowance fortnightly reviews.” She added that people who live more than an hour from a Jobcentre could be excused from the reviews. However, local MP Russell Brown is looking for a better service. He said: “While the Jobcentre will pay travel costs, clearly the travel time is a disincentive for people seeking help. “These arrangements have been in place since the start of the year and it’s time the Jobcentre review how they are working. I’ve asked to meet with the operations manager for the Jobcentre next week and I’ll be fighting for what works best for local people.” | 
