‘Black August’ as more local jobs are lost

Final redundancies have been announced at Welshpool’s tax office, just as a long-standing garage deals another jobs blow to the town.

Twenty-one jobs have gone since it was announced this year that Montgomeryshire would lose one of its landmark civic employers – the tax office - which had more than 50 on its pay roll just a decade back. And up to eight jobs will go when the Quarry Garage switches off its pumps and closes its workshop at the end of October.

“It is a sad day,” said Dave Morris, who has worked at the Tax Office for 19 years and will lock up the office for the final time on August 31. “We lost 13 staff back in March who took voluntary redundancy and another two were switched to other jobs. The final six have been given redundancy notices and will finish next week.”

The Tax Office will retain an enquiry centre which will eventually move across the road to the Powys County Council offices, but it will only operate a reduced service, opening two days a week instead of the current five.

“We were all offered the opportunity to move to other offices but the nearest ones are Telford and Wrexham,” said Mr. Morris. “The level of local service, particularly in tax compliance, will be affected without a doubt because the Montgomeryshire cases will be sent on to Wrexham, Porthmadog or further afield to be dealt with.”

The local cuts form part of a nationwide programme of reviews, which will lead to over 25,000 jobs being axed and over 200 Revenue and Customs Offices being closed across the UK.

The Aberystwyth Tax Office closed its doors in March this year, leaving Mid Wales without a full time facilitiy. Welshpool’s closure means that one of the town’s biggest office blocks – New Dolanog House on Severn Road – will be left virtually derelict, with only the Job Centre occupying space in the four-story building.

Uncertainty still surrounds the Quarry Garage as mywelshpool has been pursuing confirmation since last week from owners, Wynnstay Group, which is set to issue a statement. However, an employee has revealed that it will close at the end of October and a message has since been posted on the premises.

It’s been a gloomy August so far for local jobs. Earlier this week, we reported that Agricultural Merchants Jones & Co had gone bust with 20 job losses and only last week we broke the news that Carpenter & Paterson Ltd is releasing 12 employees, with a similar number set to go if the National Milk Bar is sold in October.