DWP announces plans to shut office in UK seaside town – 130 jobs at risk

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced plans to shut an office in a UK seaside town. The move, which has reportedly “come out of the blue”, puts a total of 130 jobs at risk.

It has been confirmed that the DWP centre in Torquay, Torbay, has been earmarked for closure. The office, based in Cotswold House on Warren Road, is an adminstrative centre rather than a public-facing Job Centre. It offers services to benefit claimants across Torbay which is the most deprived area in the South West. The plans to shut the site come amid reports that the DWP is considering the closure of nine offices across the UK.

As reported by Torbay Weekly, the family of a worker at Cotswold House claimed there was “no consultation” before the news was announced. They added that workers are “incredibly angry and upset”.

Torbay MP Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat) said: “A number of people have been in touch. Evidently, they took on people – mostly young people – in March. It is bizarre that just months later they are talking about closing the offices.

“It falls outside their rationale. The DWP should be there to help people get work and manage their employment.”

He added: “Torbay is the only location with no alternative. One of the crucial things is that there are people in jobs who would be using the town centre.”

He continued: “These are not just jobs for young people. We have heard of people in their twilight years working here to subsidise inadequate pensions. The DWP is meant to help places like Torbay.”

Around 130 staff based at Cotswold House are reportedly at risk of losing their jobs. It is believed the DWP will offer roles at alternative locations to those affected, with voluntary redundancy considered a last resort.

A spokesman for the DWP said: “No decisions have been taken lightly, and we are meeting individually with affected colleagues to discuss the support available to them and possible redeployment opportunities, which may include Torquay Jobcentre or other DWP offices if there are suitable roles available.

“It is right that we modernise and consolidate the DWP estate, so it is more efficient, effective and delivers better value for taxpayers.

“There is no face-to-face customer contact at the affected sites, and Jobcentres and the other vital services we deliver to customers are unaffected.”