DARLINGTON'S last three "neighbourhood houses", which provide advice to council tenants in their community, will close in October.

The houses, at Skerne Park, Firthmoor, and Branksome, are being closed under restructuring moves by Darlington Borough Council.

Nine employees will move to the Town Hall, with the council saying housing services will become more efficient.

But residents are concerned at facilities moving from their doorstep.

Services provided include advice on rent payments, repairs, rehousing, neighbour nuisance and estate management.

Skerne Park's house also incorporates a tool library, which will move to the Coleridge Centre, and is used by police on the estate as a stop-off point.

Sandra Manners, chairwoman of Park East Community Partnership, which covers Skerne Park, said: "When it's not there, it will mean trailing into town.

"People were getting used to having there and now it's going.

"You have to try to get people involved in things, and then it gets taken away. It's valuable and people use it for all sorts of things. It's a bit disheartening."

Joyce Standing, a member of the Park East partnership, has written to council leader John Williams and Darlington MP Alan Milburn, with her concerns.

Councillor Cyndi Hughes, who represents Park East, said: "As long as services are maintained, as the council are saying, then I am willing to support it - but I will be looking at it very closely."

A council spokeswoman said there would still be two weekly drop-in sessions at the Coleridge Centre, 100 yards from the neighbourhood house.

The base at Maidendale House, Firthmoor, will also be open for two weekly sessions from October, as will Branksome's centre at the Whitby Way shopping parade.

Skerne Park's house - two homes in Hammond Drive - will be turned into family housing.

The spokeswoman said the savings would pay for three new members of staff - a tenant enforcement officer, welfare rights officer and debt recovery officer - and said the move was "cost-neutral".

She said: "The majority of tenants now seek housing advice by using the council's customer services centre. This has resulted in a decline in the number of people using neighbourhood offices.

"Tenants can use a new home visiting service, available by appointment. Laptop technology means the housing services can be delivered in tenants' homes at their convenience.

"The restructuring proposals were fully supported by the Tenants' Board and Housing Executive."