• I AM saddened and deeply concerned about the decision by Citizens Advice Camden to end drop-in services for clients, and to close the CAB in Prince of Wales Road.

I worked as an adviser for Camden CAB for many years, and then until six years ago as manager of two of the remaining three centres, Holborn and Kentish Town.

Inevitably financial cuts over several years resulted in a reduction in service, and Holborn had to close its doors some years ago.

Kentish Town moved from its highly accessible high street location when the rent became unaffordable, but we were fortunate to be able to move in with Camden Community Law Centre, with whom we worked in close partnership and maintained an open-door service.

Kentish Town CAB was always extremely busy with clients needing face-to-face services. Many had issues with literacy, language, physical and mental illness and disability.

We sought to target those most in need of help and recognised that this could best be done through open-door access.

Many of our clients could not manage a telephone system. Many could not afford the cost of calls that involved repeat attempts to get through to busy numbers.

Others had difficulty explaining their problems, reading official letters they had received, or understanding their significance.

Your Comment (Appy to help, but we still need the human touch, August 22), rightly, talks about the importance of face-to-face contact in terms of sensitivity and understanding. These are, indeed, important.

But even more important is the ability for an adviser to see documents, from that to assess the urgency of a situation, help clients to understand their rights and their responsibilities, and to provide skilled support in negotiating an outcome.

Good advice like this not only helps individuals but saves the local authority time and money. To end drop-in services is a huge blow to some of the most vulnerable people in Camden.

I very much hope that the closure of Kentish Town CAB is temporary and that suitable premises can be found where the full range of services, including drop-in, is available.

DEBBY HYAMS
NW5