Festive shut down to save Shropshire council funds

Shropshire Council has announced it will close its main offices at Christmas to save thousands of pounds.

The authority plans to save £10,000 in electricity and heating bills by closing its Shrewsbury offices.

Shirehall and Guildhall, plus district and borough offices in Ludlow, Bridgnorth, Oswestry and Wem will be closed on 29, 30 and 31 December.

Essential services like the customer call centre and refuse collection would not be affected, a spokesman said.

Skeleton workforce

Staff have been told to take three days leave during this period. The council offices will be closed from 25 December to 1 January.

It will be the first time since the Conservative-run Shropshire Council became a unitary authority in April 2009 that it will close the main administrative headquarters during Christmas week.

The borough and district councils have previously closed for the festive period.

A spokesman for the council said there was only a skeleton workforce in during Christmas week last year and it was more cost effective to shut the administrative buildings.