SEETHING Christchurch MP Chris Chope has blasted government consultation as a sham after the Department of Work and Pensions ignored widespread local protest to press ahead with closure of the town's JobCentre Plus offices.

Mr Chope, who had battled the closure threat for more than a year and spearheaded a deputation to Whitehall last autumn, responded angrily to Thursday's announcement from Employment Minister Caroline Flint that the Christchurch benefits bureau and four part time offices in Dorset would be axed.

"It makes a complete travesty of the consultation process.

"Going there with deputations and having discussion was completely pointless," he stormed.

Mr Chope claimed closure of the centre was decided as part of the development of the new benefits centre in Bournemouth.

"That was their agenda and they had already made up their minds. The consultation was a sham," he said.

He was further annoyed that the minister snubbed Parliament by revealing her decision to the media before telling MPs.

Mr Chope told the House of Commons: "What concerns me is that the minister knows that I take this issue very seriously.

"It has been the subject of a public meeting in my constituency, the subject of a petition to Parliament, and the subject of an adjournment debate."

"Indeed, it was also the subject of a delegation that I took to discuss the matter with the minister, yet her letter makes no reference to any of those matters."

News of the closure was met with disappointment at Christchurch council where officers and councillors had lobbied the Department of Work and Pensions and canvassed 4,000 names on a petition against the loss of local facilities for jobseekers and claimants.

Council leader Cllr Alan Griffiths said: "A public meeting showed the strength of opinion in Christchurch against the proposals, yet the government has seen fit to ignore all this and push their proposals forward without taking local people's views into account."

"It is the most vulnerable members of society who will suffer, but we are determined to ensure that local people affected by this closure receive as much help as we are able to give."

"We will be continuing discussions with JobCentre Plus to ensure some provision is made in Christchurch for those unable to travel to Bournemouth."