Burnley tax office staff 'left in limbo'

6:50pm Wednesday 6th August 2008

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BURNLEY tax office workers have been left “in limbo” after bosses said they needed months to decide the fate of under-threat jobs.

Around 70 employees based at Towneley House, in Kingsway, were told earlier this year their jobs were at risk while HM Revenues and Customs conducts a review of services.

A consultation with staff over the proposal ended yesterday ((WEDS)) but a spokesman said a decision will not be made until the end of the year at the earliest so “feedback can be analysed”.

However, it leaves staff - backed by town MP Kitty Ussher - facing an anxious wait for news.

Alasdair Maclean, Public and Commercial Services Union branch chairman for the tax office, said: “It leaves us in limbo a bit but the decision will be made in the next few months or so.

“The consultation has been ongoing for the last few weeks and they will get back together around November time to give us a final decision.

“It will drag it out a bit but that’s the nature of the consultation.”

The closure proposal was met with anger in some parts of Burnley earlier this year, with council leader Gordon Birtwistle accusing the Government of taking jobs out of the town.

Mr Maclean added: “We are still fighting to retain the premises in Burnley because we feel it is important to maintain employment and keep jobs in the town.

“We feel that public services should not be taken out of towns like Burnley that have suffered in the past.

“It goes against everything the council is trying to do here.”

If the office is shut, it is believed some workers could be offered roles at premises in Manchester or Liverpool.

Miss Ussher said: “I had a meeting with the union a month back and we have been co-ordinating our response.

“It is harder for Burnley people to commute to other sites than it is for people to come into Burnley so I think they were interested in that argument and they know we have got a skilled workforce.”