Same in the US. We used to have these great people in the FSS's all over the place with lots of local knowledge and now they have been replaced with "AUTOMATION" or nothing at all. Then the Fed wonders why we have accidents away from the main centers!
I remember the guy at Houlton, Maine who fixed a taxi and hotel, got Canadian Customs to come over the fence and check me out and gave me a wonderful weather briefing as I headed North for an Atlantic crossing.
We all need real people with real experience and please save the FSS's everywhere.