WORKS and Pensions chiefs today revealed plans to shut its Jobcentre Plus office in Shipley and move it to Bradford.

The relocation affecting the Wainman Street office is still a proposal with a final decision expected to be made in six months time after a public consultation but the Department of Works and Pensions says the move would be in the interests of saving public money.

The plan has not impressed local MP Philip Davies who said he would be talking to staff at the centre to get their views and be guided by them before he tackles the DWP minister.

The proposal is to move the Shipley office to Bradford's Eastbrook Court Jobcentre in Vicar Lane or to its office in Westfield House in Manningham Lane.

Mr Davies said: "I'm not impressed. Shipley might be three miles away from the centre of Bradford but in many aspects it could not be further away. Many of my constituents never go to Bradford, they are more likely to go Leeds. I think they've misjudged the geography. It would be a massive inconvenience to the people of Shipley who use the centre. Before I talk to the Minister, I'll be consulting the staff who work at the centre for their feedback and be guided by them."

A spokesman for the DWP said: “By bringing together a number of neighbouring Jobcentres we’re continuing to modernise our operations while ensuring that our premises provide best value to the taxpayer,”

Individual discussions will now be held with Wainman Street's 26 staff to agree on their re-deployment but no redundancies are expected.

All Jobcentre claimants will be contacted to explain what the changes will mean for them, nearer to any agreed move date .

The proposed Shipley move is part of a countrywide package of creating a more streamlined Jobcentre Plus network, in light of 20 per cent of its office space being under-used.

The DWP says the way its services are delivered has changed significantly in recent years and since 2010, 2.7 million more people are in work, youth unemployment has fallen by 366,000 and the employment rate is at a record high.

Under the proposals, smaller jobcentres will be merged with larger ones and others will be co-located with local government premises saving around £180 million a year for the next ten years.

It also says support for jobseekers will be further strengthened as staff numbers are boosted by a recruitment drive to hire 2,500 new work coaches.

Damian Hinds, Minster for Employment said: “We will always make sure that people have the support they need to get into and progress within work, that’s why we are recruiting 2,500 more work coaches to help those who need it most.

“The way the world works has changed rapidly in the last 20 years and the welfare state needs to keep pace. As more people access their benefits through the internet many of our buildings are under-used. We are concentrating our resources on what we know best helps people into work.

“The changes we’ve announced today will help ensure that the way we deliver our services reflect the reality of today’s welfare system.”