By CONNOR MCCANN

THE journey to make between two city job centres was branded as a “ridiculous requirement” to put on claimants.

In protest a group of over 20 people set off from the Muslin Street job centre in Bridgeton and walked to the Shettleston Jobcentre to show a stance against the DWP’s proposal to close half of the city’s jobcentres.

The group set off on the walk at 10.20am.

Organised by the Scottish Greens the walk’s purpose was to show the difficulty the closures will pose on the hundreds of claimants in a city where one in 10 adults has never had a job and which is home to some of the most deprived communities in the country.

“There’s a very real chance these plans will lead to more sanctions,” said Calton candidate Lorraine McLaren.

“It’s a ridiculous requirement to ask of someone.

“Claiming benefits is an entitlement and distancing the service from particular people who need it just isn’t fair.

Andrew Smith, a Canal candidate for the party said: “Like doctor’s surgeries, jobcentres should be a local service. People shouldn’t have to be forced to travel miles to claim what their entitled to.”

Linda, a mother-of-one from Carntyne, who is currently claiming benefits from the Shettleston centre, said there was no sense in the closing down any of the services.

She said: “People need this service

“It just seems crazy to me. People come to these places to find work or claim because they’re ill or disabled.

“So why are these places closing down?

“Getting folk to travel long distances to come to these types of places just seems unfair.”

Joining the walk was Ginny Jackson, the manager of the Parkhead Citizens Advice Bureau.

She said: “We as an organisation are not party political, but we are political, and it is our job to raise awareness about issues that will have an impact on our clients. And this issue will have a very negative impact.”

The route taken from Muslin Street to Shettleston Road took the group took 40 minutes.

But CAB volunteer, Fiona Forsyth, said: “People who claim for benefits don’t just live in close proximity to Bridgeton.

“People living in Denniston have to use the Bridgeton centre so it will be even an even longer journey than 45 minutes for them.”

The DWP is consulting on three of the closures, Bridgeton, Castlemilk and Maryhill because of the longer distances.

The public can respond via plp.communicationsteam@dwp.gsi.gov.uk or by post to Etta Wright, District Manager’s Office, Public consultation, 1st Floor, Laurieston Jocentre 159-181 Pollockshaws Road, Glasgow, G41 1PW.