No taxation without representation - Lib Dems fight to save local Tax Office service.

3.46.26pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 10th Jun 2008

Paul Keetch and Sarah Carr collect signatures for the petition to save our local Tax Office

Hereford's Lib Dem MP, Paul Keetch met with Herefordshire Council Leader Councillor Roger Phillips, PCS Union Representatives and staff of the HMRC Tax Office situated at Broadway House in Hereford on Friday last.

The meeting provided the attendees with the opportunity to present their views to the MP on the HMRC Regional Review programme for the West Midlands area of which the Hereford office is part. The proposal to close the Hereford office as part of the restructuring review has been met with much opposition from staff and service users alike. Many people rely on the advice provided by the Centre when dealing with the tax they pay.

Commenting, Paul Keetch said, "I am gravely concerned at the impact that the closure of the Broadway House offices could have and I totally admire the drive and determination of the staff there in fighting not only for the retention of their livelihoods but for the provision of the service to their valued custom base."

Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate, Sarah Carr, is also fully in support of the campaign to save the tax office and joined in the raising of a petition in High Town on Saturday.

The MP is to meet with HMRC officials responsible for running the review on 10 June 2008 and goes on to say, "Meeting with the HMRC officials will give me the opportunity to present the case for the retention of the Hereford tax office and its hundred strong staff. The Hereford based staff have raised a petition in support of their cause for me to present at this meeting. It is imperative that proper consideration of the uniqueness of Hereford in terms of its location and socio-economic factors is given ahead of any final decision by the Minister."