Tax office closure announcement (From Western Telegraph)

Tax office closure announcement

4:29pm Wednesday 11th June 2008 in News

The announcement today that the Haverfordwest and Pembroke Dock HM Revenue and Custom offices could be in line for closure has been described as a "kick in the teeth" by a local Assembly Member.

It was confirmed that the HMRC proposes to withdraw from both offices, affecting the 61 staff that work there, as early as Spring 2009.

Campaign co-ordinator for Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union in Pembrokeshire, Steve Lazenby said staff were told that the Haverfordwest tax office at Cherry Grove will be closed apart from the tax enquiry centre.

The union says its members will continue to fight the proposed closures and are urging the public and businesses to write to the HMRC objecting to the proposals during the eight week consultation period.

Mr Lazenby added: "Our view at PCS is very clear - it's a disgraceful body blow to the local economy that requires more investment by the government, not less. The members affected are high quality public servants who have given years of vital and excellent service to the people of Pembrokeshire.

"As a trade union we remain committed to opposing this unnecessary closure and centralisation of work and we will continue to work with local politicians in this campaign. The final announcements are planned for Winter 2008 and implementation will be from Spring 2009 to 2011."

A spokesman for HMRC said: "Pembroke Dock has 14 staff and Haverfordwest 47. This consultation proposes to withdraw from both sites, leaving a retainer of staff to run an enquiry centre for public callers at Haverfordwest.

"If the proposals are adopted, staff will be asked to work in another office within reasonable daily travel. Relocations and other options will be considered. This consultation isn't about job cuts. It is estimated that if we were to retain all our individual and cluster offices in Wales we would have accommodation space for more than twice the staff we expect to have in a few years' time."

Mid and west Wales AM Nerys Evans described the announcement as a "kick in the teeth for Haverfordwest and Pembroke Dock."

She said: "This announcement today means that access to tax advice in communities across west Wales will be damaged. Again it is our local businesses and the public that will suffer as a result of these proposals."

Leader of the opposition in the Welsh Assembly, Nick Bourne added: Pembrokeshire cannot afford to lose high quality public service jobs such as these and I fully support the Public and Commercial Services Union in its efforts to keep these vital services local."