A WELSH minister has told campaigners that Aberystwyth will be considered when deciding where to locate the new Welsh Revenue Authority.

It was reported in the Cambrian News in July that a petition was launched calling on the Welsh Government to establish the headquarters of its new tax-raising authority in Aberystwyth.

From 2018, the Welsh Government will take over responsibility for the setting and collection of landfill tax and the replacement of stamp duty, which will be called the Welsh Land Transaction Tax.

The petition, launched by Cllr Mererid Jones, claimed there was a lack of public investment in the town and the mid Wales region when compared to other areas in Wales, and called on the Welsh Government to use up empty space in its Aberystwyth offices.

A Freedom of Information request by the Cambrian News in November revealed that, despite having a capacity for 535 workers, the Rhodfa Padarn offices were only occupied by 288 members of Welsh Government staff.

And after Aberystwyth Town Council wrote to the Welsh Government minister for economy and local government, Mark Drakeford AM, a reply was received and shown to the Cambrian News.

The letter states: “I note your interest in respect of the Welsh Government office in Aberystwyth. I can confirm the possibility of using one of the Welsh Government’s current offices is a key feature of possible options being considered for the future."

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