PETERSFIELD Job Centre is set to close; those who need it will have to make a 20-minute train journey or a 13-mile drive to the nearest one.

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) said that staff at the centre in Chapel Street will move to Havant Jobcentre in Elmliegh Road.

A spokesman said: “The DWP has announced plans to relocate its Petersfield Jobcentre Plus office to Havant.”

She added that most people looked for work online now, only visiting Jobcentre’s for appointments or for help in researching job vacancies.

But because Havant is more than four miles away there will be a consultation on the proposed closure of Petersfield Jobcentre, which is in a privately owned building leased to the DWP.

A final decision is expected within six months, with a view to completion by March 31, 2018, the spokesman said.

The likely closure is one of dozens across the country announced in parliament by East Hampshire MP and government employment minister Damian Hinds.

MPs heard that 78 Jobcentres were to merge with bigger ones, 50 were to be re-located into council buildings, and 27 would close.

Mr Hinds told the Post that if Petersfield Jobcentre closed, there would be more ‘outreach and partnership working’ to help job seekers: currently 148 people claim Universal Credit there.

Mr Hinds added: “We hope to relocate all 10 staff to the new office, so do not anticipate any redundancies.

“Over the next two years, we plan to expand the number of Work Coaches locally.

“There will be a consultation on the Petersfield proposal, and I encourage local organisations and people to put forward their views on it, and how outreach and partnership working can support job-seekers in the town."

But East Hampshire District Council economic portfolio holder, Cllr Glynis Watts, said the council would put local need first.

She said: “We have been invited to comment on the proposal to relocate the services and personnel in the Jobcentre Plus office in Petersfield to Havant.

“We would be concerned if there were to be a loss of services to jobseekers and we will be discussing the proposals with the DWP before responding to the consultation on the proposal.

“Creating jobs and helping people into work is one of our highest priorities as demonstrated through our apprenticeship scheme and Wheels to Work programme for those without transport.”

For more about the proposal, or to comment see the website; www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposal-for-the-future-of-petersfield-jobcentre.