A decision to close Deal’s district council help desk is to be reviewed by councillors.

It is claimed that there is not enough evidence to justify closing the service and too many people were still using it.

Dover District Council’s scrutiny (policy and performance) committee will now set up a new meeting by September 27 in Deal and ask members of the cabinet to turn up to explain their decision.

The cabinet voted through the closure on Monday, September 4, to help save £45,000 a year. Staff will be redeployed to a call centre at the council’s base in Whitfield.

Cllr Mike Eddy, district ward member for Deal’s Mill Hill, told the scrutiny meeting on Tuesday last week ; “How are we making £45,000 in saving if the staff will move elsewhere?

“Why did they not look at other options such as reducing the number of opening days in Deal? It is three now but it could be two or one.

“The use of the service is in peaks and troughs. In March 1,200 people used it but it was 800 when there was an Easter weekend.

“This closure is extremely disappointing and negative.”

Cllr Eddy also argued that there would be an effect on Deal’s High Street trade as people used the help desk, at Deal Library, while they were in the area shopping or visiting their dentist or GP.

Cllr Bill Gardner, district member for North Deal, said; “We don’t pay any rent to Deal Library so there are zero savings there. There are also no savings through the staff as they are all being redeployed to Whitfield.”

Mill Hill ward councillor Margaret Cosin asked why the two staff could not stay and answer phone calls at Deal.

She said: “The footfall in Deal has gone from 1,000 down to 800 (August to April). Surely that is still enough. This is a cut too far.”

Cllr Cosin argued that this would affect customers who were better off calling on the office in person rather than using telephone or the inter net.

She said; “Some people can’t read or write so how the blazes do they function?

“The footfall can be spiked and what if there is snow or heavy rain and wind? Are people going to have to come all the way to Whitfield? Not everybody has a car.”

Cllr Gardner said that the last No12 bus, that would take clients back to Deal, leaves Tesco at Whitfield at 1.33pm.

Cllr Trevor Bond, Middle Deal and Sholden member, said: “The basis for saving is not sound at all. This is very unfair on the citizens of Deal.”

He added: “People expect the council to have a face. They do not expect a faceless council.

“With the types of problems being handled you need to devote time to help people. I am dead against this. I am extremely disappointed.”

Fellow ward member Cllr Pamela Hawkins argued that not everybody enjoyed using the interent and did not find it easy using the telephone

She said: “There are vulnerable people who need specialist help.

“They can go to Deal Library and not feel disenfranchised and second class citizens.

“I am embarrassed that people most marginalised in society are being treated like this. I’m ashamed.”