'˜Vital' centre services are needed on the coast

Mablethorpe Town Council is fighting to keep the '˜vital' service that the Community Access Point provides for residents in the area.
Mablethorpes Community Access Point is located in Stanley Avenue.Mablethorpes Community Access Point is located in Stanley Avenue.
Mablethorpes Community Access Point is located in Stanley Avenue.

The town council recently sent in a ‘corporate response’ to East Lindsey District Council following their proposals to slash opening hours at a number of Community Access Points and Tourist Information Centres across the district.

The district council has to make savings of £6million over the next four years.

They currently spend £730,000 across the district each year in order to provide the Community Access Points and Tourist Information Centres.

ELDC now want to concentrate on providing these services through the telephone and online.

But the town council says it has seen clear evidence that their Community Access Point is needed after reporting an ‘increase in demand.’

Their corporate response outlines there is clear evidence that demand for the CAP is increasing within Mablethorpe and that there is a ‘drop’ in telephone /on-line enquires within the Mablethorpe area.

It also states that there is no evidence of any increase or demand for web-based enquiries and there are issues with online connectivity in the district.

The town council also believes that the loss of service in such a deprived area will have a severe impact on the welfare of its most vulnerable residents.

East Lindsey District councillor Stephen Palmer said: “The face to face access at the Community Access Points at Mablethorpe and indeed Alford prove the need for this service.

“It is not a service in our area that is in decline.

“This is evidenced by increasing interaction and Mablethorpe has increased its figures by 1,619 interactions on the year before, with a total of 16,504.”

Coun Palmer added: “We should not cut services that are clearly required by our residents.

“Shifting people to different methods of communication that are not suitable for them, I believe is wrong.

“I fully support the Town Council’s objection.”

A spokesman for East Lindsey District Council has confirmed that Mablethorpe and Sutton on Sea Town Council’s corporate response ‘has now been received.’

ELDC also stress that ‘all consultation responses’ will be considered before a report on the future of CAPs and TIC’s goes forward to the District Council’s Executive Board for consideration.’

The outcome is set to be published next month.