Monmouth's Voice Is Heard

Monmouth's need for a Jobcentre took first place on I.T.N.'s UK news on Friday. A camera crew recorded interviews with jobseekers and their families outside the Market Hall which, until early 2007 used to house our Jobcentre.

The previous week, six Town Councillors had delivered a petition calling for National Assembly support to return a Jobcentre facility to Monmouth. This had coincided with the 501^st Jobcentre closure by the UK Government. Monmouth and Feltham (in West London) Jobcentres shared

the unenviable spotlight that day.

Ms Wendy Kirton and Mr Andrew Hickin described the wasted time, the unfair expense and the frustration of the compulsory 35 mile round trip every fortnight. Far from being helped, the ever increasing numbers of Monmouth jobseekers are being put at a disadvantage. Meanwhile, the UK government has seen sense and reprieved the jobcentre in Chepstow.

The petition of more than 500 signatures will be formally considered on 31^st March by the Assembly's cross-party Petitions Committee, together with the evidence collated by the Town Council from angry local jobseekers about the problems caused by the Jobcentre's removal. We hope that the Assembly will back us in persuading Jobcentreplus to reopen an interview room in Monmouth even one day a week. This has been on offer from MCC's One Stop Shop ever since our Jobcentre was shut down.