Skipton's Citizens Advice Bureau is introducing an appointment system in the New Year to cater for demand and reduce client waiting time.

Bureau manager Sylvia Valentine said: "We recently held a client satisfaction survey and about 30 per cent of clients said that they would prefer us to have appointments, so we are giving it a try.

"We will still be open for people to drop in for advice from 10.30am on the days we are open to the public. The appointment system will run as a trial until Easter and we will review whether or not it meets the objectives in late March."

The survey highlighted that on occasions people have had to wait for an hour or more to be seen by an adviser. It is hoped that by introducing some appointment times each day, the waiting time could be reduced to a more acceptable duration.

A report of the findings of the survey will be published in the New Year, but Ms Valentine is delighted at the high response rate to the survey and degree of satisfaction indicated by clients.

From the New Year the bureau will open at 10.30am, with appointments taking place between 9.15am and 10.30am, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The telephone service will operate from 9.30am to 3pm on those days and from 9.30am to noon on Tuesdays.

Over the Christmas period Skipton's Citizens Advice Bureau will be closed from 3pm on December 23 to January 5 at 10.30am.

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