A FINAL plea was made to keep a valued council cash office open.

The council has decided in principle to axe the office in Church Hill and three other payment points - to the fury of thousands of customers and public sector union Unison.

The office enables residents to pay council bills and rent with cash over the counter and obtain vital information, but the closure signals a move towards the use of online payments and bank transfers.

David Knight, branch secretary of Unison Waltham Forest, presented a petition against the closure with 3, 240 signatures to Waltham Forest Mayor Sheila Smith-Pryor at a full council meeting last Thursday.

He told the meeting: "I hope the council decides to change its mind about closing the cash office.

It is used by the elderly and those who don't have computers or bank accounts.

"The staff who work at the cash office give customers great customer service and it is very popular among users.

It is in a prime location in the centre of Walthamstow near to rail and buses so it provides easy access for those reliant on public transport."

The council will save £200,000 if the closure goes ahead.

The authority sent out questionnaires about the cash office's future to 430 cash office users and just under half responded, while several users took part in interviews.

The authority hopes to make the findings public next month and it plans to make a decision about the future of the cash office in early July.

The cash office allows residents to pay council tax and rent by cheque or cash over the counter, and to get advice on payment.

It is also possible to pay online or through direct debit but residents wishing to pay over the counter will have to travel to the town hall to do so, should the closure happen.

In addition to the Walthamstow closure, payment points in Friday Hill, Chingford, the Waltham Forest Direct shop in Leyton High Road, and at the Ascham Homes office in Wood Street, Walthamstow, will be axed.

Patrick Crotty, 41, of Dawlish Road, Leyton, said the closure would be a massive inconvenience because he is paid on a different day each month by London Overground - meaning he can not use direct debit.