Local Labour AM Jeff Cuthbert has condemned plans to close the Cash Offices and Customer First Centres in Caerphilly and Bargoed.
The proposals are part of a consultation put out recently by Caerphilly County Borough Council as part of the Council’s efforts to deal with the spending cuts being imposed by the Tory – Lib Dem Coalition Government.
Jeff Cuthbert AM said: ‘I know that many Council tenants prefer the existing arrangements because they are familiar with the establishments and know the people who work there.
“They, and many other residents of the Caerphilly constituency, regard the current centres as ‘one stop shops’ where they can carry out a number of transactions and receive advice.
“I understand that the Council are under severe financial pressure thanks to the UK Government’s brutal budget, and is looking to make cutbacks where they can.
“However, if they are serious about saving money, perhaps they can explain why they have decided to offer free car parking in Caerphilly town centre at Christmas; or why they are pressing ahead with a new waste transfer plant at Trehir when a perfectly good facility already exists at Dyffryn Business Park; or why they have lost millions in taxpayers’ money with their disastrous investments in Icelandic banks.”
