SPENDING cuts could force vital local services to shut down, it has emerged.

A letter written by chairman of Westerham and Edenbridge Citizens Advice Bureaux Graham Coldman has been sent to the Prime Minister, explaining the team can not survive further funding cuts.

HELPFUL TEAM: Edenbridge Citizens' Advice Bureau chairman Graham Coldman pictured there with advisers Lynn Worrall, left, and Chris Prickett on Tuesday morning. Kent County Council is considering re-siting the bureau at the Edenbridge Centre on Four Elms Road AH2303103/2
HELPFUL TEAM: Edenbridge Citizens' Advice Bureau chairman Graham Coldman with Lynn Worrall, left, and Chris Prickett

The volunteer outreach programme offers homelessness advice and provides services such as helping people negotiate with creditors and other business or acts as a representative in court.

"Without core funding from the public purse, our bureaux would be unable to survive," said Mr Coldman.

"We have pared all costs 'down to the bone' and there are no further cuts we can make unless we reduce staff costs further which would impinge on our ability to provide the current level of service."

Mr Coldman added he was fearful funding would be reduced in March 2012 when its Service Level Agreement with Sevenoaks District Council ends.

The CAB have been filling the gap in finances by donations from local trusts such as the Great Stone Bridge Estate and the John Coldman Charitable Trust, which have contributed more than £100,000 in the past ten years.

The bureau has also raised £35,000 during the same period from quizzes, fashion shows, and barn dances.

But despite support from the community, they believe their efforts could be in vain.

MP John Stanley has taken on their cause and, in a personal letter to David Cameron, he wrote: "One of the key national networks that are well able to deliver The Big Society policy on the ground are local Citizens Advice Bureaux.

"They provide an outstanding service for some of the most needy and disadvantaged members of the local community and, given the predominant use of volunteers, provide the service at a fraction of the cost at which the same service could be provided by public sector staff.

"However, The Big Society Policy is being threatened by the public expenditure cuts that the local authorities are having to make."

Earlier this year, the Westerham CAB narrowly avoided closure, following concerns the service was not being used.

Homeowners complained the limited opening hours of the Russell House, High Street, service meant it was often not convenient to visit.

MP John Stanley said: "I have urged the Prime Minister to ring-fence local authority funding of local Citizens Advice Bureaux at no less than its current level for each local authority and for each bureau."