THE decision to close the Launceston Tax Office will have a detrimental effect on the town's economy, according to the branch's Public and Commercial Services Union representative, writes Suzanne Cleave.

Jackie Barker, who works at the office, told the 'Post': "The staff are very disappointed. I think it was expected news because we've had it hanging over our heads for the last two years, but it's different when you see it in black and white."

It is expected that the staff at the Launceston branch — currently around 42 — will be offered posts in Plymouth.

However, Jackie said there are around 80 less jobs at Plymouth than originally planned, and added: "I think there's still a great deal of uncertainty."

Staff have been informed that the department will be closed, staff will start to be moved out in the spring of 2010 and the office will close by 2012.

Even if staff are offered posts in Plymouth, Jackie said it may not be possible for everyone to relocate due to personal or financial circumstances.

The environmental implications and the cost of petrol may have an impact on whether people sit tight or look for another job.

There are people who have worked in the Launceston Tax Office for around 40 years, and also those in their early 20s who joined from school, hoping to start a career in the civil service.

Many helped distribute petitions and took part in protests to raise awareness of the threat to close the office, and Jackie said that many think the consultation process was just lip service.

"There was a huge amount of effort by the people at the office," she added.

The tax office is the fourth or fifth largest employer in the town, and Jackie said the closure will have a "devastating effect on the local economy."

Although she lives in Wadebridge, Jackie does her shopping in Launceston and buys birthday and Christmas presents in the town.

"We're now trying to look after the people here and make sure they get what's best for them. We're all extremely disappointed. It's going to have a detrimental effect on the town."

The closure of Launceston's tax office spells the end of government support for rural employment, according to North Cornwall's MP, Dan Rogerson.

Mr Rogerson has written to the Prime Minister to demand an urgent review of the decision to close the office, having worked with campaigners to collect a petition containing hundreds of signatures, which he presented to the House of Commons in July this year.

Mr Rogerson met with HMRC officials to counsel against the closure and spoke with Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Timms, to protest the importance of the tax office to other businesses in Launceston.

He said: "First Ministers denied that there was any prospect our tax office was at risk, then they dithered. Now the Financial Secretary has decided to let down our area, despite the compelling case for keeping Launceston's HMRC staff in place.

"I have argued throughout that closing the office is a false economy for the Exchequer, since the skilled employees in Launceston lead the way in detecting errors and revealing fraud, not just in local cases, but all over the ­country."

He added: "My thoughts are with the staff, who have fought tooth and nail for their local office, and for their jobs. Now they face redundancy at the worst of times or the prospect of a two hour round trip to Plymouth to do work that could as effectively be done nearer to home.

"This devastating decision means more than just the closure of one tax office. It spells the end of any notion that this government supports rural employment. If Ministers are determined to centralise all government jobs into enormous offices, these will inevitably be based in large towns and cities. What then for rural areas?

"The Prime Minister says he is trying to kickstart the British economy. This, then, is an important test. He must, for once, take some decisive action, and step in to save the office. He could, and he should."

Launceston is one of a number of tax office branches set to close in Devon and Cornwall, including Penzance, Newton Abbot and Torquay.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) says the closures are part of a scheme to improve ­efficiency.