MORALE at York's Land Registry Office is at an "all-time low" and local solicitors have said its impending closure will be "detrimental" to businesses.

The Press reported last May that the office would close by 2010 with the loss of 127 jobs. But it will actually close to the public and businesses from April 1 of this year, existing only as a sub-office. This will mean customers will have to deal with offices in Hull or Durham.

An employee at the Land Registry's James Street offices, who prefers to remain anonymous, said morale had never been so low.

He said: "The recent announcement that all the North Yorkshire and East Riding work previously handled in York will be dealt with by Durham and Hull offices in just a few weeks time has come as a bit of a surprise.

"People are wondering if the closure date will change yet again.

"It will mean big changes for the ever diminishing number of staff left in York who will be redeployed onto other work, and big changes for all the region's conveyancers, mortgage lenders and members of the public wanting advice on Land Registration matters."

The staff member added that the closure will also be bad for York businesses with less money going back into the local economy.

He added: "With all this and the procrastinated wrangling over a pay deal just to try and keep pace with inflation, it's hardly surprising that morale at the York office is at an all-time low."

David Hyams, a partner at Ware and Kay solicitors in Peasholme Green, York, said the closure would have a detrimental impact on local businesses who deal with property at various levels.

He said: "It is very disappointing to hear that the Land Registry in York is closing its doors. Out of all the Land Registries we deal with, we have found York to be one of the most reliable and efficient branches. Being just on our doorstep, it was very convenient to go down there in person if you had a query."

Duncan Morter, a partner at law firm Crombie Wilkinson in Clifford Street, York, said the closure of the office would impact on the convenience of being able to speak to someone in person or being able to obtain documents without using the postal service.

He said: "It's something that all the York practitioners will miss, as you will be dealing with someone in Hull or Durham that you never meet. Certainly, I for one will be sorry to see it go."

A spokeswoman for the Land Registry said there were no plans to change the final closure date of 2010.