Haverfordwest and Pembroke Dock Tax Office closures confirmed

11:45am Thursday 4th December 2008

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The closure of the HM Revenue & Custom offices at Haverfordwest and Pembroke Dock has today (Thursday) been confirmed.

The branches are among nine to close across Wales.

The Haverfordwest office employs 47 staff while the Pembroke Dock office has 14 employees.

Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies said: “I am bitterly disappointed by this news, I fed into the consultation over the closures and tried to highlight how important high quality jobs are in an area as rural as this where such posts are few and far between. “Not only are the job losses a blow but we shall also be losing a vital tax service for Pembrokeshire businesses and individuals which will now be “centralised. “It beggars belief that while the Welsh Assembly is trying to bring more opportunities and jobs into the regions of Wales, the UK central Government is doing the exact opposite. “This is another kick in the teeth for us.” Regional Assembly Member Nerys Evans also attacked the decision. She said: "With the difficult financial situation we are currently facing this is a big blow to towns like Haverfordwest, Pembroke Dock and Carmarthen. "This is typical of New Labour – they have set their minds on deleting a certain number of jobs. This Westminster policy - culling civil servants goes against the regeneration plans of the One Wales government. "It looks like they do not care whether these towns and surrounding areas suffer or not." Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb said: "I am bitterly disappointed about the outcome of the Government's consultation on the closures but I am hardly surprised. At no stage since I first secured a House of Commons debate on the issue back in 2006 have I sensed that Ministers were serious about saving the jobs that were under threat. The HMRC staff in Haverfordwest have worked under enormous pressure and uncertainty over the last two years and deserve huge credit for the way they have conducted themselves during the consultation. "The news today comes at the worst possible time of year and with a severe economic downturn fast-approaching. This is a huge blow to the tax office employees and to the wider community."