The future of Greenwich Council’s service desk at its Eltham Centre is being reviewed by the town hall as its other services reopen with the lifting of coronavirus restrictions.

Before the pandemic, residents could visit the centre to pay bills and talk to council staff, but the desk was closed last March as the virus struck and has not reopened since.

Users have told 853 that they have been told by staff at the centre that the desk is to be permanently closed. Last year Greenwich launched its first digital strategy, which included making its services for residents “online by default, which extra help for those who need it”.

However, the council says that no decision has been made about its future. The desk is in a leisure centre and library run by GLL, the council’s leisure contractor.

Linda Perks, the cabinet member for finance and resources, told 853: “The service centre at the Eltham Centre was closed during the pandemic due to staff constraints and the difficulty of operating under social distancing guidelines. As we hopefully move out of the pandemic we need to ensure that our services are accessible to all residents, whether that’s face to face, online or over the phone.

“Customer service operations at the Eltham Centre will remain closed for now while we work with GLL to develop a plan and identify the best way to use the space to benefit our residents.”

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