THE only DVLA office in North Wales is set to close, after bosses had assured staff that it would stay open.
The office on Bangor High Street is one of three in Wales and 39 across the UK proposed for closure.
Sam Oxford of the PCS Union explained that the DVLA had assured the staff that there would be no closures.
“They are obviously concerned about future job prospects in the area, and with two weeks until Christmas the timing of the decision is particularly bad,” she said.
Roads Minister Mike Penning said that centralisation was a “crucial” first step in making more DVLA transactions available online.
“This is a major step change which will make dealing with the DVLA easier and quicker for motorists and businesses up and down the country,” he said.
The DVLA believe that centralisation would make it easier for motorists to interact with it, and would and provide more choice and flexibility.
“The DVLA has been serving motorists for over 40 years in one form or another, but times change and customers’ needs change,” chief executive Simon Tse said.
Anglesey AM Ieuan Wyn Jones condemned the timing of the proposal as “horrendous,” and said that closing the office would affect the area’s economy.
“Apparently redeployment options are being considered for staff within other government agencies. If so, we hope that these will be sensitive to workers’ needs and sensible, rather than expecting people to up sticks or commute long distances,” he said.