Threatened staff receive boost from MP

12:05pm Friday 9th May 2008

MORE than 50 workers at Evesham's tax office have received the support of their local MP as they fear for the future of their jobs.

The uncertainty surrounding the job security of staff at HM Revenue and Customs in Lower Leys, Bengeworth, has prompted mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff to oppose the proposals for closure in the strongest possible terms'.

He has now written a letter to the acting chairman of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, Dave Hartnett, in which he states that there is no case to close the service as it will achieve little or no cash savings' and only produce a reduced quality of service to my constituents.' Mr Luff said: "The proposal is part of a wider programme of office closures that would see all tax offices in rural areas of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire close.

"This is just another thoughtless centralisation that that will bring no benefits to anyone and will remove another service from rural England and its market towns. And of course it is our post offices that will go next."

The staff at the office, off Port Street, expect to discover their fate by July when a government review is completed. The future of the offices in Evesham and Worcester are under threat and it is understood that it is unlikely that both will remain open after the review.

Mr Luff added: "The closure of the office in Bengeworth, a deprived part of Evesham, will also have a serious impact on the regeneration of an important part of my constituency.

"For the government cavarlierly to remove jobs from one of the more deprived wards in my constituency does smack of utter thoughtlessness."