Sandwich’s Citizen Advice could share its offices with the town’s archives in a bid to save the “vital” service.

Sandwich Town Council (STC) decided to evict the service, which has used the ground floor rooms inside the Guildhall for the last 10 years, to make way for its archives.

They say the ‘the town’s important and unique collection,’ currently stored in the attic, is ‘under serious risk from unsatisfactory storage’.

But following an impassioned plea at last week’s full council meeting from supervisor Deryck Goodman, a new solution of a shared space will now be explored.

Mr Goodman said: “I’m here to ask you to revisit the decision to ask us to leave our offices.

“We think we do offer a really essential service to the community.”

He explained that many of its users are elderly or vulnerable and rely on face to face contact with advisors. Being able to discuss matters in privacy, is also important.

The volunteers fear that no other nearby location will fit the needs of the people they help, leaving those on very low incomes or with mobility problems to travel six miles to either Deal to Ramsgate for help.

He added: “People know they can trust us. We are a national charity with access to a fantastic database of information that few others can match.

“It’s a vital service, please, please, please think about this again.

“If not, please we can you hold off until such times that we have somewhere else that meets the needs of the people we help.”

Mr Goodman’s speech was met with a loud applause from the packed public gallery.

The Mayor of Sandwich Cllr Jeff Franklin responded to say the council was looking into the option of having a “shared space”.

Meetings with the branch manager Jan Stewart have already taken place and will continue.

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