UNEMPLOYED people in parts of East Lancashire will face extra 10 mile round-trips after the Department of Work and Pensions announced it will merge two jobcentres with nearby sites.

As a result of an estates review by the DWP, jobcentres in Green Street, Darwen, and Market Street, Colne, will now be axed.

Fourteen staff at Darwen would be relocated to Blackburn and it understood a similar number would move from Colne to Nelson’s Netherfield Road office.

Staff from Accrington Melbourne House are set to be relocated to The Burnley Pensions Centre in Simonstone.

A spokesman for the DWP said there will be no job losses as a result of the moves in East Lancashire.

But politicians and union bosses have spoken of their anger..

Cllr Dave Smith, who represents the Sunnyhurst ward on Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:”It is extremely disappointing that central Government have made this decision despite reservations from the local council. A lot of people wrote to the DWP to halt the closure.

“It is going to be extremely inconvenient to people, especially for those who live on the outskirts of the borough. It’s going to cost people, who haven’t got much to spare, money to get to Blackburn.”

Pendle Council Leader Cllr Mohammed Iqbal said: “I am disappointed that Colne Jobcentre is closing. People need local job centres, especially in Pendle where unemployment is a major issue. This will lead to additional expense to people who really can’t afford it.”

Across the country 68 jobcentres will merge, four centres will move to new sites and 40 will co-locate with local authorities or other community services.

A DWP spokesman said it will mean they will be able to offer a more efficient service, while delivering good value for the taxpayer and saving over £140 million a year for the next 10 years.

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

“We’re merging some offices and locating other jobcentres with local authorities to make sure that the welfare state and our employment support works.”

Martin Cavanagh, PCS NW Regional Chair & Group Vice-President for members in DWP, said “Today’s announcements are a disgrace and will be seen as such by our members and those members of the public who use DWP services. This is an attack on Social Security provision, pure and simple.”