A crunch meeting tonight (Wednesday) could hold the key to a future for Wickford's cash-strapped Citizens' Advice Bureau.

Bosses are confident of thrashing out a survival package to stop the vital service from folding.

Manager Diane Storey and Wickford CAB chairman Geoffrey Buckenham will be among those at the closed meeting which will examine what its future options are.

Neighbouring Billericay bureau - also in financial difficulty - is due to hold a similar meeting.

Mrs Storey said: "I'm sure one of the decisions we will take will be not to close. I'm confident we will work out a way to carry on."

She refused to discuss specifics in advance of the meeting - but options could include further cutbacks in opening hours, and identifying new sources of funding.

Both bureaux are being forced to consider their future after only receiving 75 per cent of the funding they requested.

In March, Nigel Smith, chairman of Basildon Council's community and leisure committee expressed "disappointment" the two bureaux refused to work with Basildon CAB in their grant applications.

The three separate submitted bids were £26,000 over the council's £141,000 budget.

As a result the council was only able to allocate £33,000 to Wickford bureau, which, even with an additional top-up grant of £3,000, was well below what it had hoped for.

Billericay was awarded £32,000, and also received an additional hardship grant of £3,000.

Malcolm Buckley (Con, Wickford South) said: "As far as people of Wickford are concerned this is a well used and well run service, and one which they can depend on for impartial advice.

"I'm glad that they appear to be able to find ways of meeting the shortfall, but the council could have been prepared to pick up some of the additional cost."

Steve Lynch, chairman of Billericay bureau, said his organisation was in a similar position, with its management committee due to meet on August 1.

He added: "Basildon Council can't provide enough to support our core funding."

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