The closure of HMRC’s tax office in Glenrothes would be a “tragedy” if it goes ahead, the town’s MP claims.
Almost 60 jobs would be lost if the premises at the Saltire Centre close next December, with Lindsay Roy condemning the plans.
Instead he has called on HMRC to expand its presence in the region to take advantage of low rental rates for business premises.
The agency is proposing to close 12 offices throughout the UK as it works towards reducing its workforce to 52,000.
In these offices, 509 staff have opted to take voluntary redundancy, including 27 in Glenrothes.
However, at the same time as planning workforce reductions, HMRC are starting to recruit 2,100 staff in priority areas, including personal taxation which is the focus of work in Glenrothes.
He said: “I met with representatives of the PCS union from the Glenrothes tax office and was deeply concerned to learn that if it closes as planned, it will leave Fife without any such facility completely.
“The Glenrothes workers are being given the option to transfer to either Edinburgh or Bathgate, but they rightly argue that there is no need to close the office here. “In fact, given that the rental rates are cheaper than other areas where some expansion is required, there is a very real argument in this digital age for HMRC expanding its operation in the town.
“Their closure plans just don’t make sense and this is centralisation gone mad.
“It would be a tragedy if it was to close and the jobs, which mean so much to the local economy, are lost.
“HMRC need to think again not close but expand the service in Glenrothes and I will be making this point very forcibly in my response to the consultation.”