Plans to restructure the Edinburgh Citizen's Advice service, which provides free advice on almost any subject for Edinburgh's community, were announced in September 2008, and caused a massive protest among volunteers and politicians. Under the plans (which are currently on hold pending a full consultation), Gorgie / Dalry Leith, Pilton and Portobello offices will all shut, with operations being centralised at Dundas Street. CAE (Citizen's Advice Edinburgh) have blamed a lack of local authority funding for this move, whilst Edinburgh City Council claim that CAE made a committment to continue to run the Advice Bureaus in their current fashion. This petition will register popular opinion against the move to close these vital local services. We believe that the provision of free and confidential Citizen's Advice in local communities is an essential service. We believe that the council should provide adequate funding and support to maintain these important services. We believe that Edinburgh Citizen's Advice should be accountable to their clients and volunteers, as well as politicians and other policy makers and stakeholders, and that they have a responsibility to work hard to ensure that essential funding for their local services is maintained and whenever possible increased.

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