Mansfield registry office set to no longer offer basic marriages and civil partnerships

It is part of a cost-saving exercise that will see the closure of five registration offices across the county, which is expected to save around £13,000 a year.

The decision to no longer offer basic marriages and civil partnerships in Mansfield was taken because "most other authorities only offer this level of service at one registration venue".

Councillor John Handley, vice-chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council’s communities and place committee, said: “This change is being considered at a time of difficult financial circumstances, but we have many more registration offices compared to other East Midlands councils and the offices to close only average seven appointments a week.

"This plan will simplify our services and will not mean a reduction in what we offer as more appointment slots will be made available at our main offices to cater for demand and ensure a good service for residents.”

Mansfield registry office currently offers the basic marriage and civil partnership ceremonies at 10am on Tuesday mornings.

No other services, including full weddings and birth and death registrations, will be affected by this change.

Among the five Nottinghamshire registration offices to close under the plans are Southwell and Ollerton, with the council citing that only "eight per cent of all birth and death appointments" in the county take place in these offices.

The council currently operates 16 registry offices across the county, which is significantly more than all four neighbouring county authorities.

No date has been given for when this change will come into place.