KNUTSFORD Town Council has committed to supporting an improved Citizens Advice Service from January 2015.

The Citizens Advice Bureau, which currently operates from St John’s Wood Community Centre three mornings a week, was asked to relocate to a new location following changes with the school set to become an Academy.

Clr Julian Goodrich, the council representative for the CAB, said: “This is an essential service open to all Knutsfordians which provides in depth, quality and reliable advice on a vast range of topics. The Council’s support keeps this service in Knutsford so residents don’t have to travel to Macclesfield or Wilmslow when they are in need.”

The CAB offers advice on a range of matters from benefits and debt, to employment, tax and tenancy issues.

The service is completely free to use and in the past year has helped 302 clients.

The town council have committed to funding the continuation of the service with a paid member of the CAB providing a town centre drop in service twice per week at a cost of £18,140 per year. The council said it would also be seeking a contribution towards the cost of the service from neighbouring parish councils where their residents access the service.

Jacquie Grinham, chief officer for the Cheshire East North CAB, said: “The town council have ensured that we are able to continue delivering an effective CAB service in Knutsford; without the Council’s support it is likely that the service would have eventually closed and residents would have needed to travel to either Macclesfield or Wilmslow for advice.”

The exact location of the town centre service is to be confirmed, with both the council offices and the former taxi office on Bexton Road as possibilities.

The town council have previously funded the CAB with a grant; in 2013/14, £1,604 was given.

£18,140 has a precept Band D equivalent of £3.24 per year, 27p per month or 6p per week.