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Website: www.carmarthenshireherald.com Weekendweather summary


IT WAS announced on Thursday max/min (Day)


(Jan 26) that the Department for Work and Pensions office in Llanelli, located on Stepney Street, could close next year. The closure would affect 146


Outlook forSaturday andSunday


Legal information


The Carmarthenshire Herald is printed and published by The Carmarthenshire Herald Limited. Registered Office Address: 44a Stepney Street, Llanelli, SA15 3TR Company Registered in England &Wales No. 09460872. Registered as a newspaper at Companies House pursuant to the Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881.


The Carmarthenshire Herald is deposited weekly at The National Library ofWales for preservation by legal order, pursuant to the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003.


ThePembrokeshireHeraldinnumbers


employees at the office; however, staff are being offered positions in Pembroke, Cardiff or Merthyr. The office is classed as a 'back


of house' service, with yesterday's announcement including plans to merge 78 small Jobcentre Plus offices in urban areas and closing 27 of the 'back office' buildings. It is hoped that more efficient and larger sites can be developed to replace them. Nia Griffith MP said: "The


proposed closure of the DWP offices is a real blow to the staff and their families and to the wider community in Llanelli. "This Tory Government's plans


for changes in the benefit system is already in complete disarray, and now is no time to be losing experienced staff. "It's no good pretending that


staff can be redeployed - if they are being offered Cardiff or Pembroke - that is just not going to be a realistic proposition to many people who have family commitments. "Town centre jobs are vital for


Llanelli, and this will mean another hit to town centre businesses and the wider local economy. "We need to fight this all the way and I will be pursuing UK


Government ministers as a matter of urgency." Lee Waters AM also commented


on the news, saying: "This is awful news for the town and for all the people directly affected. "The UK Government has been


talking this week about a new strategy to spread wealth across the UK and this type of action achieves the opposite. "This will hit the local economy


and impact on the way important public services are delivered. "Nia Griffith and I will be seeking


meetings to find out more and to see what help can be offered to all those who will lose out." Mid and West AM Simon Thomas


has tabled an emergency question in the National Assembly about the closure. Mr Thomas said: “I’ve asked


the Welsh Minister to make a statement about the 146 job losses in Llanelli. These cruel Conservative cuts will have a negative impact on Llanelli. We should be trying to encourage more activity and footfall in the town centre as the Plaid-led Carmarthenshire Council is doing, not take more people out of Llanelli Town Centre.” Carmarthenshire County Council


Leader Cllr Emlyn Dole said: “It is a great loss for Llanelli town centre and we will be taking up the matter with the Welsh Government. We will also be asking the Department for Work


and Pensions to reconsider.” Speaking to The Herald following


the announcement of the job losses, Steve Donoghue, PCS full time officer and Llanelli Rural Mayor, said: “PCS is opposed to office closures unless they pose no issues for our members and no issues for our customers. “Unfortunately, many of


these proposals will cause serious difficulties for many members and will impact seriously on customer service. In these cases we will oppose the closures and campaign to keep the sites open. “PCS will provide full support to


all branches and members in dealing with these announcements. We will, where necessary, work to maximise redeployment options for members and will oppose any moves to make staff redundant. “The PCS will be considering


all options in response to these announcements. “These cuts are a further nail


in the coffin of Llanelli. As well as the decline of industry, over the last decade we have seen hundreds of well-paid jobs in the Civil Service being taken away from one of the poorest parts of Wales. “The loss of the MoD in


Llangennech and the Tax Office are just two of these. We will mount a campaign to retain these DWP jobs, not only for our members but also for the vital services that the provide to the public.”


Fire service tackle Carmarthen M&S blaze


Fire service at the scene: Outside Marks and Spencer (pic. Kayleigh White/The Herald)


said: "We received a call at 1.53pm about a fire at Marks and Spencer in Carmarthen. "Two crews from Carmarthen are


at the scene investigating the ceiling void.


"Firefighters are using breathing


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A FIRE at Marks and Spencer


in Carmarthen closed the store on Tuesday afternoon (Jan 24). The fire, which started at around


1.50pm, required two fire crews from Carmarthen to attend the scene. A Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson


apparatus, thermal imaging cameras and a hose reel jet as they deal with the situation." The Herald received reports


from the public of members of staff standing outside the store when the blaze first started. The cause of the fire is not yet


known. Nobody is believed to have been injured in the incident. The store has since re-opened for


business.


The Department of Work and Pensions office in Llanelli: Could close down next year (Pic. Alan Evans)


THE HERALD FRIDAY JANUARY 27 2017


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146 jobs at risk in Llanelli


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