CITIZENS Advice South Lakeland is being forced to drastically reduce its opening hours in Kendal and Ulverston and is laying the blame on damaging funding cuts, reports Michaela Robinson-Tate.

Bosses at the organisation said that South Lakeland District Council slashed its grant and, while they understand the authority has its own money worries, they claim local people are missing out on an essential service.

The organisation will have to close its doors in Kendal's Blackhall Road on Tuesdays, leaving it open just on Mondays and Thursdays, from 10am to 4pm.

In Ulverston, meanwhile, the office in Theatre Street will be shut on Mondays, and will no longer run an evening session on Thursdays. Its opening hours are now Tuesdays and Fridays 10am to 1pm, and Thursdays 10am to 3pm.

"This is a terrible blow for the community and for the many local people who use our services," said operations manager Jeremy Such.

Mr Such said that the organisation was reducing its opening hours by more than 33 per cent.

The cuts come at a time when CASL has been dealing with more inquiries than ever. In 2002/03 it dealt with a record 13,000 inquiries, and that figure was repeated in 2003/04.

Mr Such said that a reduction in funding from SLDC was the main problem. The council cut its support by more than £12,000 to £43,000 in April 2002, and that grant has been at standstill since.

Although most of the advisers are volunteers, there are support staff who need to be paid, and offices to run.

Advisers help people deal with benefits inquiries, debt problems, legal advice, housing and employment queries, and relationship issues.

Mr Such said: "We understand they (SLDC) do have financial problems but I think we are disappointed at the threat this ongoing cut represents to the service we provide to local people.

"We would like to see perhaps a greater recognition of the fact that, if we are cutting back our services, and faced with even more serious cutbacks in the future, that's leaving a real hole."

SLDC business support manager Barry Atkins said the cut was first made as part of the council's fundamental review of services.

Since then, the authority had been working with CASL, and a recommendation had been made to the cabinet in January this year to reinstate the reduced funding.

Although the cabinet was not able to do that, Mr Atkins said SLDC was still trying to find a way forward.

It has invited its funding partners, which include Cumbria County Council, the Community Legal Service, and various trusts, to a meeting to discuss how CASL is funded.

"We are appreciative that the work that they are doing is valuable to the community," said Mr Atkins.

"What we have got to look at is the most efficient way of providing funding so that service can continue, and we have got to work with our partners."