UNIONS, protesters and politicians are claiming that the closure of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) building (Crown Buildings) in Llanelli would be catastrophic for the town.
Llanelli Online spoke to Llanelli MP Nia Griffith on Friday (Apr 28) following a letter she received from the Minister for Work and Pensions, which appeared to reject any alternatives for keeping the building open and the staff in Llanelli.
Rob Owen, one of the County Council candidates for Llanon and Tumble was out on the streets of Llanelli on Saturday (Apr 29) urging people to act to save the DWP building and jobs.
He said: “If the building closes and jobs are lost the impact on this town would be huge. The town is struggling enough as it is. I would like to see the local politicians out on the street here protesting.”
Nia Griffith MP has made a number of attempts to negotiate alternatives for the staff at the building including meetings with the Minister for Work and Pensions at Caxton House in London.
The MP has claimed that those negotiations have fallen on deaf ears and that any closure and job losses would be catastrophic for the town.
The DWP is responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy. As the UK’s biggest public service department it administers the State Pension and a range of working age, disability and ill health benefits to over 22 million claimants and customers.
The 6 floor multi storey building on Church Street has been home to the DWP staff in Llanelli since it was constructed between 1970 and 1979. It is a huge building with a floor area of 2,730.88 m2.
