The proposed closure of a customer help centre was brought about by a big decline in the number of people seeking face to face contact, the council has claimed.

A new consultation is being undertaken by Waltham Forest council on a proposal to close the Customer Service Centre in Hoe Street, Walthamstow.

Instead of attending the centre, residents will have to use one of four Library Plus centres in the borough, if plans go ahead.

The centre was refurbished in 2011 at a cost of £40,533.75.

Councillor Clyde Loakes, deputy leader and cabinet member for environment, said: “There’s been a 44 per cent decline in customers at the Customer Service Centre since 2012.

“Walthamstow Library is just a few hundred yards from the present Customer Service Centre, so not only will inconvenience be limited for residents continuing to access services in Walthamstow in person, but for those residents living closer to one of our other town centres the other three Library Pluses – Leytonstone, Leyton and Chingford – will provide an option closer to home.”

Library Pluses will offer assisted and self-service PCs for services including applications and payments.

Time slots can also be booked for registering births, accessing support around Housing Benefit and Council Tax.

Waltham Forest council said it is set to make significant savings if the centre is closed, although officials have said they will not know how much until the consultation is finished.

It is also not clear whether there will be job losses.