Customers wishing to visit Huntingdonshire District Council will, from July 30, find themselves being seen in just one ground floor location in Centenary House, instead of being directed to any one of five reception areas on four different floors in Pathfinder House.

Centenary House, a two minute walk from the offices at Pathfinder House, St Mary’s Street, Huntingdon is being turned in a customer service centre. This will be a temporary measure until a new centre is established as part of the rebuilding of Pathfinder House.

A team of customer service advisors will be available at Centenary House to deal with benefits, housing, planning, council tax and general enquiries all in the one location. As all customer services are being put into one area, people will also be able to make payments at Centenary House and the cash office at Castle Hill House, Huntingdon will close.

For one day only the cash offices based in Huntingdon, St Ives and St Neots will be closed on Friday 27 July for staff training but card payments can still be made by calling 01480 388165. This means that customers will not be able to make face to face payments or conduct other enquiries on that day.  It will be business as usual from 30 July onwards.

Unlike Pathfinder House, the new location provides disabled access that meets the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act. Opening hours will be 9 am to 5 pm from Monday to Thursday, and 9 am to 4.30 pm Fridays.

The establishment of the new centre will mean that Pathfinder House will be closed to the public from 30 July – except for access to public meetings. All visitors will need to report to Centenary House. Construction of the new offices is due to begin later this year.

Improved facilities for the public are at the heart of the planning of the new council offices. A customer service centre on the ground floor is part of the new development and is being designed to provide more convenient face-to-face contact allowing visitors to complete their business quickly and conveniently all in one area. The centre will complement the council’s already well-developed telephone and internet services.