HUNDREDS of people are petitioning the Department for Work and Pensions against its “savage” plans to close several jobcentres in east London.

The DWP is proposing to close two of out three jobcentres in Waltham Forest, joining a further five offices in east London also getting the axe.

Thousands of claimants using the Leytonstone Jobcentreplus for face to face appointments will be forced to travel 3.7 miles to the Walthamstow Jobcentre instead.

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) warns the move will reduce employment prospects of jobseekers and hit hard claimants with disabilities and young children.

A PCS spokesperson said: "It will increase their travel cost while the local economy will be damaged as civil service work is lost from the area.

“It will also disrupt the roll out of Universal Credit full service in Waltham Forest, potentially impacting on claimant payments.

“These savage attacks on welfare services are purely a cost cutting exercise by the Tory Government.

“Support for the poor and vulnerable will be greatly reduced in Waltham Forest.”

The DWP is promising claimants will only have to pay fares when they sign on, and if they are called into a jobcentre fares will be reimbursed.

A DWP spokesperson added: “Eight out of ten Jobseeker’s Allowance claims are now made online and 20 per cent of our office space underused we are streamlining our estate, which will save taxpayers £1.8 billion.

“This year we are hiring 2,500 more work coaches to help those who need it most.

“At the heart of everything we do is our customers, and we’ve made it easier than ever for people to access our suite of specialist services to find work and get the support that they need – whether that be in person, online or over phone. 

“By bringing together a number of neighbouring Jobcentres we’re continuing to modernise our operations while ensuring that our premises provide best value to the taxpayer.”

An online petition calling to “keep Leytonstone Jobcentre open” has more than 200 signatures.

Supporting the petition, Denise Stallman, said she used to work at the Department of Social Security in Leytonstone during the 1980s.

She said: “It served not only Leytonstone, but Leyton, Wanstead and South Woodford.

“It was a vital community resource and is much needed by the public.”

Mike Barton’s daughter is working now, but when she was struggling, the Leytonstone Jobcentre was essential.

He added: “It's simply too far and too expensive for young unemployed people to get to Walthamstow.”

Elaine Hoctor fears people with disabilities or young children will find it harder to sign on and get to appointments.

She added: “I doubt the people proposing the closure have tried catching a bus from Leytonstone to Walthamstow and seen how long it often takes with all the traffic delays and road works.”