Politicians condemn tax office closure

11:37am Friday 8th August 2008

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Some of Craven's leading political figures have thrown their weight behind a campaign to keep Skipton's tax office open.

Staff at Cavendish House have been fighting the decision - announced by HM Revenue and Customs in November - to close the office and transfer work to Bradford and Leeds.

The branch is due to close next April and around 38 people are unsure about their future employment.

Samantha Allen, secretary of Skipton's Public and Commercial Services Union, said at a meeting last Thursday that being given jobs elsewhere was not good enough.

"We've been told we will be relocated to somewhere within a reasonable travelling distance, which to them is Bradford," she said. "It's no good for people with families because it's going to add another two hours to the day."

Mrs Allen said that staff at the tax office had accepted things needed to change, but were petrified about what was going to happen.

"People can't just find other jobs in a place like Skipton," she said.

Trudy Bates, branch president of the Bradford and District Revenue of the Public and Commercial Services Union, said the closure would not just affect the local office, but the community and people's livelihoods.

She said: "We believe that Skipton remains a viable office.

"We're fighting a tough campaign - all our members and reps here are first class and deserve our full support."

Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Skipton and Ripon, Claire Hazelgrove, told the meeting it was an incredibly difficult situation.

She said: "Thirty-eight people don't know what's going to happen to them. I think now the focus of the campaign should be job security for these people.

"They provide front line services and rural jobs should not be let go of without a good fight."

Miss Hazelgrove said that she would write to Chancellor Alistair Darling on behalf of the Tax Office staff.

And James Keeley, the Liberal Democrats' prospective parliamentary candidate, said that the situation in Skipton was a disgrace. "I believe in local people delivering local services," he said.

Mr Keeley proposed a visit to the Treasury in London to highlight Skipton's concerns.

"Let's make them aware of who we are," he said.

One Skipton tax office worker, who did not want to be named, said that it was not good economics to force somebody like her out of work.

She said: "I have a disabled son but this job means that I can still look after him.

"If I lost the job I would have to sign on. It's not good economics to push somebody who has been willing to work since they were 19 onto benefits."

Chris Knowles-Fitton, the Conservative leader of Craven District Council, said central Government was obsessed with compliance and ticking boxes.

"We have compliance at the expense of improvement," he said.