CRITICS fear Darwen Town Hall is being "downgraded" after services were removed.

Important changes which could affect a large number of people in Darwen have been brought in a bid to speed up administration and save money.

Among the changes, people wanting blue badges for disabled parking can no longer be seen at Darwen Town Hall unless they have specifically made an appointment to see an officer.

Customer services at the town hall have also been reduced to one customer advisor who sees visitors by appointment only, and the service closes for lunch.

In October we reported how the collecting hall now closes two days during the week because of a slump in demand.

Since Monday, Darwen people have not been able to make cash payments for things such as council tax on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Coun Dave Smith said he feared the downgrading' of the town hall.

He said: "The council tried to bring this in a couple of years ago. It was one of the options on the budget cuts but we rejected it.

"We should be making it convenient for people to pay bills, not inconvenient. We have always said no to this. They are trying to downgrade Darwen Town Hall.

"There were very few services in the town hall before Labour put them in roughly 10 years ago, so we wouldn't want to see them taken out.

"We've always resisted downgrading, and if there are to be further reductions, I would be firmly against them."

Bob Simpson, chairman of the Blackburn And Darwen Disabled Access Group, said he had received a number of complaints about the changes.

He said: "Darwen people want to be able to use their local services and get what they are entitled to.

"There is no reason to reduce services for disabled people in Darwen.

"The council are under the impression that most of this work can be done by post, and people are disagreeing."

George Campling, director of customer service at Blackburn with Darwen Council, defended the changes.

He said: "Darwen customers can obtain forms and submit any required paperwork at Darwen Town Hall.

"Badges are posted to them from Blackburn where administration of the scheme is carried out."

On the customer service changes, he said: "We introduced an appointment system at both Darwen and Blackburn town halls several months ago to offer customers more choice and cut waiting times.

"Customers can still drop in at certain times and this new system has proved very popular."

"We are training eight new staff to expand the benefits advice service and Age Concern and the Citizen's Advice Bureau will be moving their advice services into Darwen town hall in the near future, to further improve services to customers in Darwen. "