Shropshire Council have recommended changes for customer service points' opening hours in Whitchurch, following a period of consultation.

The recommendations, as part of a wider report into services by Shropshire Council, will be put in front of cabinet next week to be ratified.

Michele Leith, director of workforce and transformation, published the report and says the reviewed opening times come after a further set of reductions in 2016, and that use of the facilities have fallen by another 15 per cent between April 2017 and 2018.

And with the changing times, Shropshire Council say they will try to manage any potential job losses or changes.

She said: "Should these recommendations be accepted by Cabinet we will ensure a suitable lead-in period during which arrangements will be made with our working partners to minimise impact on them.

"Over the same timespan we will ensure that customers are aware of the changes to opening days and that access to the alternatives of telephony and online self-service is clearly signposted with appropriate instructions on use.

"HR advice has been sought over the impact of these proposals on staff and an appropriate period of staff consultation will take place prior to implementing any changes.

"To retain expertise, alternative positions within customer services will be offered to displaced staff with redundancies considered where these alternatives are not considered reasonable."

In Whitchurch, the new recommended hours are Monday-Wednesday, and Friday, it will be open for self-service while it will be staffed on a Thursday from 9.30am until 4.45pm.

Currently, the points are open for face-to-face transactions five days a week from Monday to Friday, but are closed on Saturdays.

In Wem and Ellesmere, there is a move to decommission support contracts with the offer or retaining a free phone and computer at Shropshire Council's expense.