I SAW Claire Keetch’s Talking Point piece in last week’s Hereford Times, describing the service offered by Herefordshire CAB. Coincidentally, I have also completed the council budget consultation and noted the item in the background stating the aim to put more preventative services in place.

It appears to me that the CAB is already providing a preventative service in a range of areas and is an accredited organisation with minimal risk and no start-up costs.

In previous Hereford Times articles it has become obvious that the CAB service has been restricted and is in danger of closure altogether due to withdrawal of council funding.

Surely it is time for the council to look again at last year’s decision as a modest investment in the CAB will help to prevent problems in areas that cannot be dealt with by the council or other statutory organisations.

Moreover, if the CAB is protecting benefit entitlements and people’s livelihoods, this has to have a beneficial effect on the county as a whole.

MICHAEL HILL Browning Road, Ledbury