FURTHER to the article Advice bureaux all set to continue (Hereford Times, May 5) Herefordshire CAB Trustee Board would like to make it clear that it is far from business as usual.

Services have already had to be withdrawn from Ross-on-Wye, Ledbury, and Bromyard and this week the bureau in Leominster, which has been an essential service in that market town for 30 years, has closed.

Together with losses to specialist casework provision, this represents a 50% cut in services. We estimate that around 2,000 people won’t now receive the help they need, and around £2 million will be lost in financial outcomes that would have been achieved for some of our poorest people.

The trustees have been forced to cut services, and have done so with the deepest of regrets because we strongly believe that the need for CAB services is more important now than it ever has been, given the impacts of austerity hitting those most vulnerable in our communities.

Citizens Advice services are well recognised, well respected and supported by the community, as demonstrated by the fact that almost 4,000 people signed petitions to Herefordshire Council during its public budget consultations.

Trustees believe residents need and deserve access to free, independent and trusted high quality advice. The new Government has made it clear that big new cuts are coming and Herefordshire people will need help to avoid being hit hard.

As one of only a tiny number of CABs in the country without council funding, our residents may well be hit the hardest.

The £50,000 approved by full council in February is much welcomed, but this is not a long-term solution to funding CAB services.

The organisation is pleased to be continuing to talk to the council about future opportunities. However, it needs to be crystal clear that Herefordshire CAB will not be around to celebrate its 50-year anniversary next year, unless a firm and long-term commitment is made to funding this essential service.

DENISE SHUKER Chair, Herefordshire CAB Trustee Board