WESTBURY’S branch of the Citizens Advice Bureau will be opening in June at the Laverton.
It was originally envisioned that the branch would be located at the police station, but the branch will now be moving into the Laverton, once building works have been completed.
Although the bureau offers a telephone service, Westbury residents currently have to travel to Warminster or Trowbridge in order to meet an advisor in person. The new Westbury branch will have three advisors and will be open one day a week.
Sarah Cardy, manager of Citizens Advice Bureau West Wiltshire said, “I think this will be a great facility for the people of Westbury. It will be very similar to the service we offer in Warminster. There’s a need, and it’s good that we’ve found somewhere suitable. The Laverton can provide us with the room we need, it’s a place people are comfortable in, and it allows confidentiality.”
Westbury Mayor, cllr Sue Ezra and members of the town council have been working closely with the CAB to ensure the service could come to the town, and were keen to offer the Laverton as a home for the new branch.
“I’m just very very pleased it’s going to start,” said cllr Ezra. “There’s a real need, and it’s great that people don’t have to trail to Trowbridge. That’s especially important for families with children.”
The inclusion of the CAB also fits in with the vision of the Laverton as a community resource. “This is a community facility, and it’s being of service,” added cllr Ezra.
The Citizens Advice Bureau operated in the library building over 10 years ago, but this was closed down. It had been hoped that the police station would house the new branch, but technical difficulties with internet access meant that this plan had to be abandoned.
The Citizens Advice Bureau is a registered charity, staffed by trained volunteers, who offer free, independent, and confidential advice on a whole range of issues such as legal and money matters. The exact date of the opening of the Westbury branch is yet to be confirmed, but in the meantime people can still make use of the bureau’s telephone service on 0844 375 2775 between 10.00am and 4.00pm Monday to Friday. Advice is also available online at www.adviceguide.org.uk
