A PUBLIC meeting will be held in the near future to discuss the decision to close HMRC’s only Welsh language call centre in Porthmadog.

HMRC announced this month it is to close all tax offices in Wales outside Cardiff, which includes Ty Moelwyn in Porthmadog, which would result in a loss of over 20 jobs.

Over the weekend a meeting was held at Ty Moelwyn with members from Porthmadog Town Council, Ty Moelwyn’s staff and their union­ rep, Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts and Assembly Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd Dafydd Elis Thomas.

A campaign has also been launched by Porthmadog Town Council to oppose the closure of the tax office in the town.

Cllr Jason Humphreys, who represents Porthmadog East on Gwynedd Council, and attended the meeting, said: “The problems of decline, poor wages and job opportunities faced by most people in Porthmadog has for far too long been obscured by the relative prosperity seen in certain parts of the locality.

“I’m still not convinced that this is being fully grasped by some. Government policies are making things worse, not better.

“At the moment, all we’ve got to look forward to is job losses in the tax office, Canllaw and more to come in Trawsfynydd.

“There’s going to be a public meeting and I urge people who are normally not politically active to take part.

“We need the help of all political parties and I’ve initiated contact with Plaid Cymru, Labour Liberal Democrats and Conservative members of the Assembly.

“We need a fair hearing, followed by action.”