North Ayrshire now has no Citizens Advice service despite once enjoying five

North Ayrshire’s last remaining Citizens Advice has closed its doors.

It comes two years after the service closed four of its five North Ayrshire branches including its busiest service in Irvine.

The final branch in Saltcoats closed its doors on 30 March, 2018.

North Ayrshire Citizens Advice Service chief executive Nina Smith said huge efforts to save the service had all failed.

Smith said: “We have explored every opportunity and engaged with key stakeholders regarding all viable options over recent months however, despite considerable efforts, those discussions have been unsuccessful and the board has concluded that they have no choice but to take the decision to close.

“This is a very sad time for NACAS, who have been proud to serve North Ayrshire for almost 20 years. Together we’ve helped and supported thousands of citizens, provided advice, information, campaigned and fought to continue our important work.

“Our immediate concern is for the people of North Ayrshire and we will continue to support them during this final phase to provide the assistance they need."

North Ayrshire Council and North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership said they are working to ensure that advice services in the area will continue to be available for local people.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesman said: “We are deeply disappointed to learn that North Ayrshire Citizens’ Advice Service is to close, however, we are currently looking at options to ensure advice services remain available.

“We are committed to ensuring the people of North Ayrshire will continue to benefit from high-quality, sustainable advice services and are currently exploring ways in which we can do this most effectively.

“We will also discuss the future of advice services in North Ayrshire when our chief executive, Elma Murray, meets with the new chief executive of Citizens Advice Scotland later this month.”