Anger at job centre’s axe
HUNDREDS of people have signed a petition against the UK Government’s “savage” decision to close the Mountain Ash job centre, which will leave users having to travel to Aberdare.
HUNDREDS of people have signed a petition against the UK Government’s “savage” decision to close the Mountain Ash Jobcentre.
The announcement was made earlier this year, with customers and benefits claimants told they must travel to the centre in Aberdare to access the facilities, and the petition was launched last month.
The petition, called Ask the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to stop the closure of Mountain Ash Jobcentre Plus, has gathered more than 250 signatures from concerned Cynon Valley residents.
But the DWP says the Jobcentre was becoming “increasingly under used”, with more and more services being offered online.
People are angry claimants will find the extra travelling time more difficult or not possible.
Their reasons also include not enough people in the area have access to computers and smart phones, so rely on the centre for that, as well as that the distance between Aberdare and Mountain Ash does not take into account the distance some claimants have to travel to attend the office already.
They also demand those who must now travel further are compensated, and that the area is already among the most deprived in Wales, with this being “another blow”.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, leader of RCT Council and Councillor for Mountain Ash West, said: “Once again the Conservative government has shown an utter disregard for the people of the Valleys, with this decision very clearly taken at a desk in London by DWP Ministers who simply have no understanding of the massive impact that this will have on those seeking access to employment opportunities.
“The personal finances of those who make use of the services offered at the Jobcentre will invariably be stretched already, and to then expect those individuals to travel to Aberdare or Pontypridd shows an absence of care and concern for people’s circumstances.”
When it was first announced in July, it was called a “shortsighted” decision, and is alongside a number of other closures including Llanelli’s benefits office, which will see the loss of 146 jobs.
The Mountain Ash closure means claimants and staff will have to travel to the Aberdare Jobcentre Plus at the Crown Buildings near Aberdare Library, some four miles away from the Mountain Ash branch off the A4059, New Road.
Coun Morgan, who is spokesman for the RCT Labour group, added: “I am disappointed that this decision has been taken executively, with absolutely no engagement or consultation sought from RCT Council, and I will be writing to Damian Green MP to ask why this was the case.
“I understand that the staff at the Mountain Ash Jobcentre have been offered alternative roles, although this will no doubt leave them worse off financially with the extra travelling costs that they will incur.
“I would urge everyone to please sign our petition to oppose this ill-thought decision.”
Other reasons for opposing the closure included that many claimants suffer from ill health and that the UK Government’s decision to close the centre contradicts the Welsh Government’s stance to create “better jobs, closer to home”.
The closure was confirmed in the DWP’s updated plans in July, and a spokeswoman said on Friday: “Mountain Ash Jobcentre is becoming increasingly under-used, particularly as more of our services are offered online.
“Merging the Jobcentre with our site in Aberdare means we can continue to provide a first-rate level of service to our claimants.”