Reprieve for tax office staff

A tax office in Mid Wales has been given a stay of execution for another year, an MP has claimed.

Lembit Opik, Liberal Democrat MP for Montgomeryshire, said he had been told that Welshpool tax office at Dolanog House will now remain open until the financial year 2010 to 2011.

It was originally scheduled to close its doors by next year, leaving 27 people without a job.

But today Mr Opik revealed the good news – but he said the battle to safeguard the long-term future of the office was not over.

He said: "This is encouraging news but work still needs to be done to stop this tax office being closed in the future.

"They had hinted that this might be the timetable, but at least now we know. It means we have a limited time to try and reverse the decision and that means a lot of work needs to be done in the interim.

"The Government owes it to the loyal and experienced staff at Dolanog House to keep their office open.

"They do a good job and it's clear the service they provide could be valued instead of closed, by making a strategic commitment to its future.

"While a stay of execution is good, I intend to continue my campaign for a full pardon."

Just last week, Mr Opik said he was worried staff were not being given any help to find new jobs.

He said: "Although individual managers are being really helpful, the staff are being denied training because there are not enough funds."

Dave Morris, Welshpool representative for the Public and Commercial Service Union, said: "We were all promised that we would be attending workshops to help us in preparing for interviews but a few weeks ago the Government cancelled them because there was no funding."

When it was announced the tax office would close last year, Mick Bates, Montgomeryshire AM, said the government didn't care about rural Wales.

At the time he said the announcement that the tax office would close showed "how little the Government cares about rural areas in Wales such as Welshpool".

By Andrew Morris