Debts & Loans

WEST Wiltshire Citizens Advice Bureau has been given £30,000 from the government to help provide debt advice to people during the recession.

The Chancellor Alistair Darling announced that a further £15 million would be allocated to providing debt and other advice services in his pre-Budget report in November, and £10 million of this amount would be given to Citizens Advice Bureaux.

Sarah Cardy, West Wiltshire CAB Manager, has revealed an increase in the number of people enquiring about debt problems and the money will be used to increase CAB’s opening hours in West Wiltshire.

She said: “This is a vote of confidence in CAB advice and a welcome recognition that bureau need additional support right now to help the growing number of people seeking help with problems as a result of the economic downturn.



“We have seen a 150 per cent increase in our enquiries relating to redundancy this year compared with the same period last year, along with a 68 per cent increase in mortgage and secured loan arrears problems and a 87 per cent increase in enquiries about Jobseeker’s Allowance.

“We have also seen significant increases in problems with fuel debt, bank and building society overdrafts, council tax arrears and water bill arrears.

“These are a clear indicator of the extent to which people on low and moderate incomes are struggling to make ends meet at a time of increasing uncertainty about the security of their jobs and incomes.

“Access to reliable, high quality, free, independent advice has never been more vital.”

The Melksham CAB office will be opening one extra morning a week on Mondays from 10am to 1pm in the Town Hall. The office is also open on a Friday.

The Trowbridge CAB office in Mill Street will now be open from 10am to 4pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and the Warminster CAB office will be open every Wednesday from 10am to 1pm, and on Tuesday from 10am to 3pm.