A STARK warning has been given that Haslemere's Citizens Advice bureau could close within the next 18 months.

The dire warning was made this week by Haslemere CAB manager Jackie Gaskell.

The bureau plans to reduce its opening to five half-day sessions a week, plus one evening session because of lack of funding.

"Even this reduced level of service is not sustainable without revenue funding from Haslemere Town Council. Without it there is doubt over the future of the service beyond March 2004", warned Mrs Gaskell.

"We all feel terrible. We offer an excellent service and a reduction in hours will mean that the local need is not being met."

Last year the CAB helped with more than 7,000 problems, a quarter of which were welfare benefit-related problems and another 20 per cent related to debt. But it has been fighting for survival for three years.

Mrs Gaskell said its plight had become even more difficult because under Haslemere Town Council rules, it is not allowed to give grants for revenue funding.

But she says:"Other local CABs receive revenue funding from the town or parish councils considerably in excess of the amount we are requesting. Farnham, Godalming, Alton, Petersfield, Whitehill and Bordon all receive between £8,500 and £18,300 from town councils."

Mrs Gaskell is hoping Haslemere Town Council "will reverse its traditional policy and agree to give revenue funding to support the local CAB".

Even if the latest £5,800 grant application is successful, it will only clear last year's deficit. A reduction in opening hours will go ahead early next year.

In her report to the annual meeting, Mrs Gaskell outlined the important services provided by CABs. Among them were unfair dismissal and discrimination and consumer problems.

"If through lack of funding, we are not able to continue, it is not only those people who will suffer, but also the community as a whole," she warned.

Chairman Paul Gardner agreed: "The service we provide is under threat and one that has been brought more sharply into focus following Waverley's decision to freeze its grant to all bureaux."

He hoped that Haslemere Town Council would look again at their rules for providing revenue grants.

The president of Haslemere and District Chamber of Trade, Melanie Odell, who was guest speaker at the meeting has also spoken out in support of the bureau.

"Haslemere CAB is now part of the infrastructure of the town, highly regarded and well established. Its importance cannot be stressed highly enough.

"We should, therefore, support such services as the CAB as a community, and businesses, councils and individuals should consider such organisations in the funding and fund-raising programmes," said Ms Odell.

On Wednesday, Haslemere Town Council clerk Mike O'Neill said town councillors were expected to discuss the matter at the finance and general purposes committee budget meeting on December 19 at 7 pm.

He said a copy of a letter from the CAB has been circulated to all councillors.