MALVERN residents will once again be able to get face-to-face support for district council services following the opening of a new reception building.

From now on, enquiries for district council services such as council tax payments, housing issues and waste and recycling collections, are no longer being dealt with at The Hub in Malvern Library.

Instead residents can now get help from the Council House in Avenue Road via the new extension, which has been added to the side of the grade II listed building next to the town's Priory Park.

The new reception forms part of the council’s commitment to improving customer services.

This has also resulted in an increase in the number of departments with direct-dial phones, so people no longer need to go through a central switchboard.

Investment is also being made in the council’s website so residents can access services more easily.

No redundancies have been made due to the changes, which are expected to save £100,000 a year as a result of the council having exited a deal with private firm Civica, which previously provided the council’s telephone and face-to-face services.

Sandra Hudson, responsible for customer services at the council, said: “The best way to access our services is via our website, which residents can do anytime from home or when they’re out and about.

"However, our new reception building and the improvements we’ve made to our telephone arrangements, mean when people do need to contact or visit us they will receive a more efficient, improved service.”

Residents needing face-to-face support with Worcestershire County Council services, such as Blue Badge applications, bus passes and highways issues, will still find that support at Malvern Library in Graham Road, and from now on, the services are also available at the libraries in Upton and Tenbury.