SIGNS have gone up on Brighouse Jobcentre advertising the building for sale, following confirmation that it will close in a restructuring of the service.

Earlier this month the Government announced that a number of Jobcentres across the country would be closed, with staff and services transferred elsewhere.

It comes as a 20-year estates contract with Telereal Trillium comes to an end next year. The firm is now seeking to sell or let the Brighouse premises.

A brochure describes the Owler Ings Road building as being offered with vacant possession from May 1, 2018.

Local councillor Howard Blagbrough (Con, Brighouse) has criticised the move, arguing that people in Brighouse need access to Jobcentre services in their own town and having to travel to Halifax could hamper their prospects of finding work and have a knock-on effect on any benefits they are entitled to.

He said: “I’m disappointed that the DWP hasn’t taken into account most people’s concerns during the consultation.

“It’s a great loss to the town and I believe there is still a need for the service in Brighouse.

“What are people supposed to do if they don’t have the bus fare to Halifax?

“They will continue with a weekly job club, but the location is not right in the centre of town and is a union building.”

Jobseekers in the town would need to travel 4.8 miles in a 34-minute bus journey to get to the nearest alternative Jobcentre, in Halifax.

The detached, predominantly single-storey Brighouse office building is described as having excellent natural light, modern suspended ceilings, new PVC double-glazed windows, and a private car park.

It has a total of 3,490 sq ft of floor space and is up for sale for £225,000 or on an annual lease of £22,500.

When the closure announcement was made earlier this month, Damian Hinds, Minister for Employment, said: “We will always make sure that people have the support they need to get into and progress within work.

“These changes reflect the fact that more people access their benefits online, resulting in many of our buildings being underused.”

The DWP confirmed that all 15 workers in Brighouse are being offered roles in Halifax. No closure date has yet been set.

MORE TOP STORIES