Bates backs civil servants in Montgomeryshire

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 24th Jan 2007

Mick Bates, Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire has pledged not to cross the picket lines in support of civil servants striking next week to protest against horrific cuts to the services they provide.

The threat to 47 good jobs in Welshpool has undermined confidence in the town where the jobs are worth £2m to the local economy. The threat comes as the government leads a shake up in the civil service aiming to trim 104,000 jobs. "The government appears to be targeting small offices. The closure of Welshpool tax office would be a disaster not only for the 47 families dependant upon the employment there, but also for the wider community. There are few alternative employers in the area offering employment within similar career structures. That means that we either lose the families from the local economy or they become economically less active. Either way, the impact will be severe.

"The announcements where not just disappointing, they demonstrate a lack of joined up thinking from the government. If the government were truly committed to sustainability and reducing carbon emissions then it would recognise that rural communities need good employment opportunities! Local services are critical to the survival of our rural communities and the governments systematic attack on our local services spells disaster for small towns such as Welshpool.

"I visited the tax office before Christmas and have engaged with union representatives since then. I have written to the Minister in charge Dawn Primorolo MP and also to the First Minister in Wales, Rhodri Morgan AM to point out the value of the service provided by dedicated and experienced staff in Welshpool tax office and asking for support in retaining that facility.

"Talk is cheap! All the government talk of sustainability is a lie - why do they just keep attacking local services? The tax office, post office, hospitals? Centralised services are not the answer in rural Wales. We need to keep our services local to sustain our communities hold steady our cultural heritage and develop a buoyant local economy based on secure local services!"

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