New number for county council

Calls to some numbers will also be cheaper for residents as existing 0845 numbers are replaced with a new 0345 service.

ESCC is changing its main contact number from the current 01273 481000 to 0345 60 80 190 and is introducing new 0345 numbers for Social Care Direct and for its Highways Contact Centre.

The new system will also apply for general library enquiries and library renewals.

The aim is to make it simpler for people who want to telephone the Council and help keep a lid on the costs of a call. More services are planned to move to the new 0345 number system in the future. However, the current contact numbers will stay 'live' and run in parallel with the new system for several months to give residents time to get used to the new arrangements.

Councillor Bob Tidy, Lead Member for e-government, believes the new system will cut out confusion and help to keep phone bills down. "Currently we have dozens of different telephone numbers for our services. We're working on a plan that will move, over time, to a handful of numbers for our key services and general enquiries. When the new system is well-established, residents should find it much easier to contact us and get the information they want.

"We're also keen to help keep the cost of calling us to a minimum. Calls to 03 numbers are charged at no more than the local rate and are included as part of any inclusive call minutes or call discount schemes. This will help hard-pressed family budgets, especially at a time of recession when every pound counts."

The main changes announced so far by the Council are:

'¢ The general enquiry number is changing from 01273 481000 to 0345 60 80 190.

'¢ Social Care Direct will change from 0845 60 80 191 to 0345 60 80 191.

'¢ The Highways Contact Centre will change from 0845 60 80 193 to 0345 60 80 193.

'¢ General library enquiries will be channelled through to 0345 60 80 196.

'¢ Library renewals will be channelled through 0345 60 80 195.

The changes have already been incorporated into the Tunbridge Wells telephone directory. The Hastings area directory will show the changes from March 24 and the Brighton area directory will follow on July 16.