CAMPAIGNERS are fighting plans which could see a job centre closed in the middle of a recession.

The lease for Job Centre Plus in Deptford High Street is due to expire in November, raising fears that the area could be left without a service at a time of increasing unemployment.

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions, which runs the centre, claims negotiations on extending the lease are ongoing with the site’s landlord Trillium.

But regional secretary for the Public and Commercial Services Union Tony Reay (cor) says staff at the centre were told in March that it would be closing.

Planning permission has already been granted by Lewisham Council to build flats and a restaurant on the current site.

Mr Reay said: “A lot of job centre users have fallen behind the campaign because they know the importance of local services.

“This is all about whether people can afford to sign on elsewhere.

“If they want to look for work other than online they’ll have to go to Catford to do it.”

The union has organised a petition on the Downing Street website which has 437 signatures so far.

It also organised a public meeting at the Albany in Douglas Way, during which Lewisham Deptford MP Joan Ruddock threw her weight behind the campaign.

Mr Reay says his union is now putting pressure on Job Centre Plus to find another site nearby.

Councillor Chris Flood, councillor for Telegraph Hill ward in Lewisham, says the centre is essential for the area.

He said: “It’s a no brainer. We need a job centre at this time when we’ve got increased unemployment and more applications to process.

“I think there’s evidence here that people are struggling to find work and there are lots of people that are only on short term contracts.

“We’ve got a lot of Goldsmiths students in this area as well. A lot of them are now qualifying but aren’t feeling confident about finding work.”

The union claims that between last April and this April there was a 30 per cent increase in the number of people registered as unemployed at the Deptford centre.

And national unemployment figures released earlier this month showed the largest quarterly increase since 1981, standing at 7.6 per cent for the three months to this May, up 0.9 over the previous quarter.

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “We are considering other locations in the Deptford area and are totally committed to remaining in Deptford.

“We have a contingency plan which will enable us to maintain a service and offer sufficient space for our staff and customers whatever the outcome."