FEARS that the introduction of Jobcentre Plus could leave Alton Ôout in the coldÕ have resulted in calls for separate offices for both Alton and Bordon.

While welcoming the development of the new service, which will combine the work of existing job centres with the Benefits Agency, there is a determination locally that it should not create a North East/North West divide.

Alarm bells sounded following a consultation exercise by the Employment Service inviting comments on a plan to locate a new Jobcentre Plus office at either Alton or Bordon.

The opinion of those living in both towns is that neither wants to lose out and that public transport between the two is so poor that to combine the service in one centre would be unacceptable.

Alton CAB has already made strong representation about the need for Jobcentre Plus offices in both Alton and Bordon, a view strongly supported by Alton MP Michael Mates, by Alton Town Council, and now by East Hampshire District CouncilÕs north west and north east area community committees.

In addressing TuesdayÕs north west area committee, Alton CAB manager Teresa Jamieson endorsed EHDC area co-ordinator Keith ChadwickÕs view that this was not a North East/North West battle, but a combined effort to secure the best deal for both communities.

ÒStaggeredÓ by the proposal that just one office should serve both Alton and Bordon and by the very short consultation period, Mrs Jamieson had sought to alert the wider community to the issues raised.

While welcoming the Òhuge opportunityÓ Jobcentre Plus would provide for improved local access to an integrated service, Mrs Jamieson could not endorse the idea of a shared office.

ÒWe have very low unemployment now in Alton and Bordon but people do lose jobs and there is a high turnover with a need for such a facility in both towns,Ó she said.

Alton currently has a job centre which is located on the first floor of Wey River House in the High Street - a building currently awaiting redevelopment. It is not easily accessible as it is upstairs without a lift.

During a recent visit Mrs Jamieson had been told that the job centre was currently negotiating a lease on a new building in Alton. Further to this, she told NW area committee members, she had contacted the owners of Wey River House who said they would be happy for the job centre to remain and to install a lift, which would solve the accessibility problem. There was plenty of room there to install the new Jobcentre Plus facility, she said.

Bordon, on the other hand, does not have a job centre and residents have to travel to Liphook to Ôsign onÕ and Aldershot for benefits.

According to Keith Chadwick, in May 2000 an Employment Service consultation had agreed to move LiphookÕs job centre to Bordon and a suitable premises located. Now, with the proposed introduction of Jobcentre Plus, larger premises would be required.

Bordon has been lobbying for its own office for many years and last week members of EHDC north east area community committee resolved to push for a facility in Bordon.

A shared facility has been viewed as ÒunacceptableÓ by all concerned since, due to poor public transport services between the two towns, many residents would find it harder to obtain help and assistance.

It would, it was pointed out, be contrary to government aims to secure rural services and sustain local communities.

ÒThere are four buses a day between Alton and Bordon and no rail transport. Many people in these two towns, which have the two most socially deprived wards in East Hampshire, do not possess cars,Ó pointed out Mrs Jamieson who, in her capacity as a district councillor, was due to put a motion before East Hampshire District Council colleagues on Wednesday backing the need for Jobcentre Plus offices in both Alton and Bordon.