MALMESBURY Citizens' Advice Bureau will close permanently next week after 16 years following a row over access to its base in the town hall.

The town council decided in November to lock the front doors to the town hall at Cross Hayes because of troubles with youths using the building's toilets.

It said that, instead of using the front entrance, townspeople could access the CAB's weekly session, held on Wednesdays between 10am and 3pm, by going through the Tourist Information Office on Market Lane.

But CAB's North Wiltshire area manager Liz Taylor said there had been a huge drop in the number of people they advised since the front doors were locked.

She said people had been scared off by the new entrance procedure, which made visitors to the confidential sessions ask for permission to enter a side door then find their way through poorly sign posted corridors to the CAB office on the second floor. The new entrance was also against the charity's charter of providing easy access to its services.

"I am really upset," said Ms Taylor. "It was something I hoped we could sort out. We haven't been able to and it will cause a huge problem to people in Malmesbury.

"A member of staff at the town council has to press a button to allow anybody in, then they have to go past the toilets in what is like an obstacle course to get to us. People have to have a bit of determination to get to us and it has put most people off."

CAB gives advice on everything from dealing with debt problems to filling in complex benefit forms and employment issues.

It had been seeing up to 11 people every week but since November this number has dropped by half, with hardly any new inquiries. Regular users were angry at news of the closure and urged the council to rethink its decision.

Widow Mary Cox, 80, of Gastons Lane, said: "If they go ahead with this it just beggars belief. I couldn't believe when I heard it's not going to be there. It is going to be a great disadvantage for Malmesbury people and a big mistake."

The town hall is owned by North Wiltshire District Council but the facility is run by the town council.

Mayor Charles Vernon said the doors were closed after trouble with youths in the town hall's toilets during the day.

At the same time, the office of a part time member of staff was moved from the front of the building to the back as part of the reorganisation of the town hall. The council said it would be more efficient if all staff were together at the Tourist Information Office.

Coun Vernon said the move meant there was no one available to monitor the front entrance.

Asked what he thought of the CAB closure, Coun Vernon said: "I think it is very sad. They have been in Malmesbury, I believe, since 1988."

Ms Taylor said they decided to call it a day after talks with Malmesbury Town Council broke down.

She said they had offered to reduce the operating time of the service to three hours a week and forgo their £100 contribution from the council if it would provide cover.

But the town council told them unless they could find someone to man the door themselves it would remain shut.

Ms Taylor said: "We have tried to be as reasonable as possible. I know they have budget restrictions but we can't do anything about it. I'm sorry there has been such short notice before we close but I thought we could sort something out."