Bishop Auckland to lose HMRC services
Helen has expressed her disappointment that services are to be withdrawn from HMRC offices at Vinovium House, Bishop Auckland.
40 employees currently work at Vinovium House, and HMRC have announced that by 2010 most of these jobs will be relocated to offices in Stockton and Middlesboro.
HMRC have confirmed, however, that face-to-face customer enquiry services will remain at or nearby Vinovium House, and that no member of staff will be required to relocate beyond a reasonable daily travel distance.
Helen said:
“Obviously, this is very bad news. HMRC fulfil a vital role in the local economy, and I am disappointed that these proposals fail to appreciate the long-term value of retaining services at Vinovium House.
I understand that final decisions will be made after consultation between staff and managers, and it is essential these ensure face-to-face services remain in Bishop, and that no workers are forced to travel the quite unacceptable distance to Stockton or Middlesboro”.
HMRC’s impact assessment on these proposals also acknowledged that Helen ‘wrote to Financial Secretary to the Treasury outlining concerns about the impact on the local economy, increased carbon emissions from increased travel, loss of local services, the impact on customer services and the impact on work/life balance for staff’.
