A job centre could return to St Neots, ending years of costly journeys to Huntingdon for those seeking employment.

Huntingdonshire District Council is looking at creating a “community hub” that would also includes its customer services operation – currently located in the town council’s foyer.

Councillor Barry Chapman, HDC’s portfolio holder for services, revenue, and benefits, said that they are currently in the process of identifying suitable building with a view to opening the centre in six months.

The last job centre in the town was in New Street and closed in 2008. The closure, Cllr Chapman said, had left some jobseekers having to walk to Huntingdon as they could not afford transport.

He said: “A job centre by itself can’t justify a premises on its own. But we have got nearly a third of the people signing on at Huntingdon job centre travelling from St Neots and the surrounding area. If you are one of the hardest-pressed people, then a trip to Huntingdon to sign on once a fortnight – or every week if you are a certain age – is quite a big expense, so a St Neots job centre I think it would mean a lot to people.”