The Dudley Council Plus walk-in centre is to close on January 17 as the council looks to make it easier and more convenient for residents to report or request council services.

It follows a review of the service, which highlighted the number of people visiting the Castle Street walk-in centre has decreased significantly following the pandemic, and since the launch of the council’s online platform MyDudley.

MyDudley will remain the quickest and easiest way to request council services or report an issue and is available online, anytime and from any device. For those who can’t get online, or need more help, residents can call advisors at the call centre on 0300 555 2345.

For council housing tenants, the borough’s housing hubs will continue to provide tenancy support and advice, while family hubs are open for advice and support for those who are pregnant or have children.

Local libraries will also continue to offer a wide range of information to residents as well as support to help people get online.

More than 100,000 residents have so far signed up to MyDudley, which is receiving high customer ratings, and this figure continues to grow. The council’s call centre is now also consistently achieving high call answer rates and will continue to support residents.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of the council, said: “Residents will continue to be able to contact us easily, in the most convenient way to suit their needs, with support available across the borough.

“In recent years we’ve seen a significant drop in visitors to our Castle Street walk-in, with the vast majority of our customers now contacting us online.

“MyDudley will remain the quickest and easiest way to request council services or report an issue and is available online, anytime and from any device. ​It also enables us to keep people up to date with their issue from start to finish.

“For those who are unable to get online, or need a bit of help, our call centre advisors are on hand to support.

“Across the borough our housing hubs provide a range of housing and support services to council housing tenants and our family hubs have lots of advice and support for those who are pregnant or have children.

“Local libraries also offer a range of information as well as support to help people get online.”