A CENTRE that offers advice on everything from debt to divorce has re-opened in Petersfield town centre.
After being housed in The Old Surgery, in the Festival Hall car park since 1992, Citizens Advice (CA) has moved into the third floor of Petersfield library.
The new venue is disabled friendly, open to the walk in public, and offers a drop in centre with private rooms for more confidential conversations
In front of representatives from East Hampshire District Council, town councillors, local solicitors and CA volunteers and trustees, Petersfield Mayor Jamie Matthews officially opened it on Saturday, March 3.
CA chief executive Helen Drake said: “We are delighted to have moved to modern accessible premises in the centre of town.
“The relationship with Hampshire County Council library services comes from the clear links between the information and community role of libraries, and our advice and information service.
“We intend to build on these links to ensure that Petersfield residents are able to get advice in a way that suits them.
“This office provides general and specialist advice, information, advice by telephone and people can access our information points to deal with their advice issues themselves.”
Also available are free interviews with solicitors and pension advice.
The shift from the Old Surgery was driven by an extensive study into how the service should move forward.
Among other improvements, the study suggested it shortened its name from Citizens Advice Bureau, to just Citizens Advice.
CA in the library is open from 9.30am to 4pm Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and 9.30am to 6.45pm on Wednesdays, and offers advice and information on housing, debt, benefits, employment and other issues.
An information line on 03444 111 30 is also available.
For more details about the service and the issues it deals with, visit the website www.citizensadviceeasthampshire.org.uk