DOZENS of confused job–seekers have turned up at Sheerness Job Centre since last Friday to find the doors locked and a note saying it would not be open for 18 weeks.

The building was due to be refurbished to make changes for the new Job Centre Plus service, but following the discovery of asbestos, bosses decided to close completely the building in Millennium Way.

Workers have been relocated to Sittingbourne and existing clients have been contacted about the new arrangements.

Job Centre spokesman Dean Weston said: “There was no risk to the public or staff. We took the decision that it would be easier for us to do the refurbishment and to address the asbestos in one go.”

It is expected the centre will reopen on Monday, August 8.

John Fowler, director of SureStart Sheerness, said: “This is a great shame; we heard about this only last Thursday and we’ve already had a number of our parents coming in concerned about accessing benefits. I wish we’d known about it in advance so we could have geared ourselves up here. We’ll be keeping a close watch to ensure Sheerness families are not disadvantaged by this.”

The new Job Centre Plus system involves the merging of the Job Centre and Social Security offices, which means that Social Security clients will be able to go to the Sheerness office on any working day rather than just on Tuesdays and Thursdays as they do now.

Existing Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) customers have been excused from attending fortnightly job reviews, which will now be conducted over the phone, and new claims for JSA will be dealt with by appointment at Sittingbourne Job Centre in St Michael’s Road.

Mr Weston said a limited service would be operating from a mobile building in Sheerness, which will be to make payments from the Advisory Discretionary Fund, crisis loans and travel costs for customers to go to Sittingbourne Job Centre for interviews.

* For Job Centre queries call 01795 562743 and for Social Security advice call 01795 562500 or visit the Social Security Office at Roman House, Roman Square, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 4BP.