WREXHAM’S MP is continuing to fight UK Government plans to close the town’s tax office next year.

Ian Lucas is opposing a move by HM Revenue and Customs to shut their premises on Wrexham Technology Park, forcing hundreds of workers to either take redundancy or relocate to similar roles in Liverpool or Telford.

Mr Lucas has raised the matter on several occasions in Parliament, addressing Prime Minister Theresa May directly at PMQs in February when he asked: “What does the Prime Minister have against towns in North Wales?”

He has also written to Mrs May and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, to urge them to reconsider. Jim Harra, second permanent secretary at HMRC, has now replied on their behalf to state the plans to close the Wrexham office by September 2020 had not changed.

A call by Mr Lucas to consider using Wrexham for additional office space, rather than Liverpool, was rejected as the staff members required to work there are already based in Liverpool.

Mr Lucas said: “I was dismayed by the reply and continue to be dismayed by the UK Government’s complete disregard for towns like ours. Once again, we see investment being shifted into cities and it is people in places like Wrexham who suffer.

“It appears that HMRC are refusing to budge so I am exploring other avenues and liaising with union officials over what steps to take next. I will continue to do absolutely everything in my power to get this terrible decision reversed.”

In his letter to Mr Lucas, Mr Harra writes: “The confirmation of the closure date of our office in Wrexham will be disappointing… We are committed to maximising tax revenue, increasing compliance and reducing the tax gap while delivering best value to the tax payer, and we have to prioritise these aims.”

The Wrexham has been threatened with closure since 2015, when HMRC announced plans to centralise operations into 13 ‘hubs’ in the UK’s biggest cities. At the time, about 400 skilled workers were employed there – but that number has since been whittled down to about 270. It was confirmed in February of this year that September 2020 would be the closing date for the Wrexham office.

Many employees there have more than 25 years’ experience.

A statement from PCS union reps based in Wrexham added: “HMRC has once again failed to provide any significant rationale for the blind pursuit of their estate modernisation agenda.

“Making staff redundant at a time when HMRC are expected to deal with the challenges Brexit will bring does not make sense. They are choosing to ignore the effect the closure of Wrexham office will have on the staff and their families as well as the wider community.

“PCS union believes losing such a significant amount of high-quality jobs will take further money out of Wrexham’s local shops and economy at a time when the high street is already struggling.”