COUNCILLORS in Porthmadog have seen red after the First Minister of Wales ‘snubbed’ their invite to a meeting to discuss the future of the town’s tax office.

HM Revenue & Customs ann­ounced in November last year that it is to close all tax offices in Wales outside Cardiff, which includes Ty Moelwyn in Porthmadog, resulting in a loss of over 20 jobs.

Porthmadog Town Council has launched a fierce campaign to oppose the closure of the Welsh language call centre and a public meeting will be held on Saturday, 20 February, to discuss its future and how to save the building.

The council contacted several politicians to attend the meeting, but were left disappointed to receive a letter from the First Minister, Carwyn Jones, who said he wouldn’t be able to attend due to other commitments.

At a Porthmadog Town Council meeting, Cllr Alwyn Gruffydd said: “I don’t believe the First Minister understands what sort of impact the closure of the tax office would have on Porthmadog.

“His attitude to the concerns of the people of north Wales was shown when he came up to visit the victims of flooding recently, but he failed to turn up to speak to affected residents in Talybont and then had to come back – it was outrageous!

“I think it’s shocking how he won’t make time to come up to Porthmadog and not discuss with us such an important part of our economy here.”

Cllr Simon Brooks said he was ext­remely disappointed with the resp­onse from the First Minister.

He said: “Carwyn Jones is the Mini­ster for Education, Culture and the Welsh Language so helping save Ty Moelwyn should fall under his responsibility.

“He needs reminding of this and his responsibility for the Welsh language.

“I am extremely disappointed he says he cannot make it, but I believe we need to push him on this and stress the importance of his visit and that he needs to make time in his busy schedule to come up and see us, if not on the date of the meeting, then before it.”

Cllr Selwyn Griffiths, chair of Porthmadog Town Council, echoed his fellow members’ feelings and stated that a strongly worded letter will be sent back to the First Minister expressing the importance that he meets with them.

He said: “We expect him to attend the meeting or at least come up to meet with us to discuss the future of the tax office – it’s his duty to do this.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The First Minister takes this issue very seriously and we raised our serious concerns when HMRC made the announcement in November.

“As well as the uncertainty caused for staff, it will have a disproportionate effect in an area such as Porthmadog, where high value jobs will not easily replaced.

“The impact on the Welsh language is of fundamental importance to us, and we made this very clear to the UK government, which is responsible for taking these decisions.

“The First Minister is disappointed that he is unable to attend the meeting on 20 February, but he has a long standing engagement elsewhere.

“He will, however, continue to press the Prime Minister to do every­thing in his power to avoid compulsory redundancies.”