“It is widely recognised that this is a cost cutting measure for the Department. “

Campaigners have blasted the ‘stripping away of services to help people’ after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced that full Jobcentre services will not be offered in Shirebrook for the foreseeable future.

After closing the Market Place building over two years ago, following structural problems, the DWP has confirmed that existing staff and services will be transferred to Mansfield Jobcentre from the end of February 2027.

The Department says it has explored all available options for securing alternative accommodation in the town.

Colin Hampton Coordinator of the Derbyshire Unemployed Workers Centres (DUWC) said: “This is utter nonsense.

“It has taken them over two years to come up with this explanation of their actions when it is widely recognised that this is a cost cutting measure for the Department. They have form for this modus operandi having shut Jobcentres in Eckington, Dronfield, Clay Cross and, Bolsover over the past 20 years. Tragically, the costs saved by the DWP are passed on to the people who can least afford it. Jobcentre users are picking up the travel costs when required to attend in Mansfield.”

The DWP will have a presence with a mobile van in the car park of Shirebrook Leisure Centre on Thursdays and will be giving support to young people in the new year through a Youth Hub and in Shirebrook Library.

Colin who has been at the DUWC for 40 years added: “The idea of using a van is all very well in rural areas where there is no alternative, but not in a conurbation like Shirebrook. It is a waste of money and, when no one uses it, will be withdrawn. We've seen it all before.

“The DWP intend to move the van to the Market Place but all available evidence of past practice shows that this is just another manoeuvre in the withdrawal of local services.

“With the clamour from some politicians to slash the welfare budget, this is what it means in reality. It is one thing to feel like you are a left behind community but another to strip away the services that might help people to catch up.”

A DWP spokesperson said: “We are consolidating the DWP estate to be smaller, more effective and deliver better value for money for the taxpayer.

“As the Jobcentre has been closed to the public for some time, customers have already been receiving employment support from Mansfield Jobcentre. This means there will be no impact on customers or the support available to them.

“To maintain a presence in the town, our mobile Jobcentre based at Shirebrook Leisure Centre continues to extend the Department's visible reach in the local community.”