LOCAL MP Katy Clark says the decision to relocate all North Ayrshire benefit tribunals from Irvine to Ayr will have an 'unacceptable’ impact on locals.

The Tribunal Service will close its Irvine offices in Sovereign House after deciding not to renew the lease.

From April 1 all tribunals will be held in Russell House in Ayr.

The MP for Ayrshire and Arran has written to the Tribunal Service objecting to the change which she fears will adversely impact vulnerable users and the advice services who support them.

She said: “This is a decision that will greatly affect vulnerable people across North Ayrshire.

“The Tribunal Service has claimed that it will be easy to travel to the new centre as there are road, rail and bus links to Ayr from Irvine but quite frankly this fails to acknowledge that the Irvine centre has been used by people from across North Ayrshire and, notwithstanding the increased travel time, the transport links between some of these areas and Irvine is bad never mind the links to Ayr.

“It also fails to acknowledge the complex physical and mental health problems that some of these users will have and to ask them to travel to Ayr, even if travel expenses are provided, is unacceptable in my opinion.

“And it’s not only the applicant that will be affected by this change.

“The ability of advice services, such as Citizens Advice, to support people at Tribunals will create very real scheduling challenges for them.

“I am appalled at this decision and have written to the Tribunal Service to ask that they reconsider.” A Tribunals Service spokesperson said: “HM Courts and Tribunals Service continues to keep the use of its estate under review to ensure it meets operational requirements.

“Taking into account a decrease in workload, the underuse of the building and the need to make the most effective use of facilities, the decision has been taken not to renew the lease for the Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) Tribunal venue in Irvine.

“Hearings will be listed at the venue in Ayr from 1 April 2015.

“In order to minimise any impact arising from this change, in line with SSCS Tribunal policy, HM Courts and Tribunals Service will reimburse appellants’ additional travelling expenses.”