CLOSURE-threatened Christchurch JobCentre Plus has been given a reprieve following a deputation led by MP Chris Chope to works and pensioners minister Caroline Flint yesterday.

Speaking from the House of Commons directly after the hour-long meeting, Mr Chope said: "She's a new minister and I think we can say she listened very constructively to what was being put forward to her."

Also at the meeting was Christchurch Borough Council leader Cllr Alan Griffiths, community sevices committee chairman Cllr Sally Derham Wilkes and Burton Parish Council chairman Cllr Judy Jamieson, who is also a trustee of the town's Citizens' Advice Bureau.

Mr Chope said: "We went to see the minister and she was surprised there had not been a service delivery plan to justify closure of the JobCentre."

She has suggested further talks at local level be arranged to discuss the way forward.

"We didn't get a complete reprieve but it also means there's no immediate decision to close," said Mr Chope.

"We don't know if there's going to be an execution but there is certainly time for further discussions and reflections."

The threat of closure of the Wick Lane JobCentre Plus and its proposed amalgamation with the Bournemouth office followed a review of government services.

It led to 4,000 people signing a petition protesting about the proposal.

Mr Chope held an adjournment debate in parliament, there was all-party support for keeping it open from Christchurch councillors, heated debate at a public meeting and a strongly-worded response from the town hall.

The main concerns were that people who could least afford it would be forced to travel to Bournemouth to sign on, search for jobs and obtain benefits advice.

In a five-page response to JobCentre district manager Tim Taylor-Blake council chief executive Mike Turvey had claimed: "These issues highlight a major concern which is that the closure proposal appears to focus very strongly on financial savings to JobCentre Plus but has little or no regard to impacts on individual customers and their families or to the wider environment."