Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has agreed to write to Samaritans seeking an explanation for the closure of its Omagh branch after more than 50 years. The decision was taken at the council's monthly meeting on Tuesday night, where a motion brought by Omagh Sinn Féin councillor Barry McElduff and seconded by party colleague Catherine Kelly was backed by members.

The closure, announced last month, has affected around 40 volunteers who had been working from the branch in Campsie. Councillor McElduff said the closure would leave only one Samaritans branch west of the Bann, in Derry, compared with six east of the Bann. He said the Omagh branch had strong and historic community links, and that local volunteers had undertaken significant fundraising to support it independently.

The council is to write to the charity's headquarters in England to ask for the specific reasons behind the closure. It is also seeking clarity on the legal basis under which the central Samaritans charity can acquire assets from the Omagh branch, which the motion described as an independent charity with its own trustees. Questions have also been raised about the future of the building in Campsie and other assets held by the branch.

Last year the council held a civic reception to mark the Omagh branch's 50th anniversary, recognising the contribution of its volunteers to the local community.

Samaritans said it recognised the contribution made by successive trustees, directors, leaders and volunteers in supporting the branch and providing support to callers at their most vulnerable moments, day or night. The charity said the difficult decision to close the branch was reached due to circumstances beyond anyone's control. It added that all volunteers in the branch had been offered support, including one-to-one phone calls offering guidance on relocation, and that support meetings had also been offered.