THE Board of Trustees at Monmouth Citizens Advice Bureau met last Friday (27th March) and came to the conclusion that they had no option but to cease operations as from the end of June.

The Monmouth CAB has been supporting the people of Monmouth and its surrounding villages for more than 47 years and the demand for its services has never been greater. It is hoped that this need will be met by the Monmouthshire County Citizens Advice Bureau opening up in the town but the Board of Trustees was much distressed not to be able to continue to provide support through a Bureau dedicated to Monmouth.

The chairman of the Monmouth Bureau, Mrs. Rosamund Blomfield-Smith, said: "The Monmouth Bureau has been fighting against taking this decision for over three years now but the Citizens Advice organisation nationally has a policy of reducing the number of smaller bureaux and it has been clear for some months that we no longer have their support.

"As a result, funding from Monmouthshire County Council has dried up and the bureau will be financing its operations out of reserves from April onwards. The provision of a Citizens Advice service in Monmouth will be the responsibility of the County Bureau from now on."

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