A contentious decision to relocate a council advice centre out of a high street is up for debate again.

Five Leatherhead district councillors have ‘called in’ last month’s decision to move the council’s HelpShop from Leatherhead High Street to the library in Church Street.

Councillor Dave Howarth said they believed there had not been enough information or due diligence done when the executive made the decision.

Coun Howarth said: "The relocation of the HelpShop to outside the town centre would be a disaster both for residents that rely on the vital services it provides, and also the High Street, which thrives on having a variety of shops and services open in it."

He said the move would reduce access to services, one of the council’s priorities, by taking a vital resource out of the centre and creating another empty property.

He said that a break clause was utilised in September on the shop’s lease so there was no more negotiation with the landlord of the current property.

He said: "This meant there were not a full range of options put to the executive - a valid status quo option is important to weigh up any decision."

But Mole Valley District Council said they were working with Surrey County Council to better offer council services ‘under one roof’ at the library with free parking.

Councillor Vivienne Michael, portfolio holder for customer service and wellbeing, said they carefully considered seven options and surveyed customers who proved willing to walk an extra three minutes.

Coun Michael said: "The HelpShop service is a valued one, the service is costly to MVDC and a co-location will allow customers to maintain their access to services in Leatherhead whilst achieving a significant saving.

"No other option that was investigated could offer this level of saving whilst still keeping this valued service in Leatherhead."

She added that a 'one-off opportunity' to break the current HelpShop lease after a rate review in September 2012.

The decision regarding the HelpShop will be discussed at the Mole Valley's scrutiny meeting on Tuesday, December 11.

Hubert Carr, chairman of Leatherhead Residents’ Association, said: "We think it’s a very bad move.

"We are of the view that the library should be moved into the town and merged with the HelpShop, which are both sources of information."