Offices for the registering of births and deaths set to shut in Southwell, Bingham and Ollerton

Three Advertiser area county register offices are set to close.

The part-time Nottinghamshire County Council offices at Southwell, Bingham and Ollerton for registering births and deaths are not well used the council said, as agreed by its Communities and Place Committee today (Thursday 4 October).

The council currently operates 16 register offices across the county.

Only 8% of all birth and death appointments in Nottinghamshire take place at the five offices to close.

Southwell is eight miles from Newark, which is unaffected; Bingham is 10 miles from West Bridgford and Ollerton is 11 miles from three other offices – Worksop, Retford and Mansfield.

East Leake and Stapleford are also set to shut.

The council said the change will not involve a reduction in services as more appointment slots will be made available at the main registration offices in place of the closed offices.

It has also been agreed to continue offering basic marriage or civil partnership ceremonies at Worksop and cease such services in West Bridgford and Mansfield as most other authorities only offer this level of service at one registration venue.

The plans are expected to save the council around £13,000 a year.

John Handley, vice-chairman of the council’s communities and place committee, said: “This change is being considered at a time of difficult financial circumstances, but we have many more registration offices compared to other East Midlands councils and the offices to close only average seven appointments a week.

“This plan will simplify our services and will not mean a reduction in what we offer as more appointment slots will be made available at our main offices to cater for demand and ensure a good service for residents.”