Last week the Department for Work and Pensions announced that centres in Norris Green, Edge Hill and Wavertree are to close as part of a nationwide programme

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson has written to the Government saying the closure of three job centres in the city would cause “great hardship”.

Last week the Department for Work and Pensions announced that centres in Norris Green, Edge Hill and Wavertree are to close as part of a nationwide programme.

In the letter the Mayor says: “Based upon reports released in the media, it would appear that there are 78 job centre sites affected nationally and that more than 10% of those sites are located in Liverpool and the wider Liverpool city region.

“In our view, this targeting of closures on a sub region where unemployment remains high requires clearer clarification and explanation, and we would be grateful if you could provide the rationale outlining how this decision has been reached.”

A total of eight job centres are to close across the Liverpool city region.

Councillor Lana Orr, Cabinet member for employment and skills, added: “There is no doubt that the closures will cause greater hardship for our poorest residents who use these centres.

“This means that people who currently walk to a job centre will have to take two buses – money they can ill afford when they are already struggling to make ends meet.”

At the end of last week the council announced that Liverpool’s main job centre is to be relocated inside St John’s Market – a short move from its current home in Williamson Square.

It will be based on the upper floor of the market and will be based alongside the council’s new One Stop Shop, which is relocating from Municipal buildings this autumn.