Farron dubs 'For Sale' sign above HMRC offices 'insensitive'

1.51.08pm GMT Tue 14th Oct 2008

Local MP Tim Farron has called for an end to the confusion regarding the future of the HM Revenue & Customs offices in Kendal as a 'For Sale' sign is erected above the premises.

After months of uncertainty, the future of the HMRC Kendal offices is still officially under consultation. However staff were flabbergasted when a commercial estate agent arrived two weeks ago to put up the sign.

The former offices of the Environment Agency in the same building have lain empty for almost four years, but employees at HMRC Kendal were shocked to overhear that the sign referred to the whole building.

Tim Farron MP commented: "I am astonished at the insensitivity of HMRC in its behaviour to its Kendal staff.

"A Senior HMRC Officer informed me recently that they had considered retaining Kendal as a 'hub', at least in the medium term. The sign gives the impression that a decision has been reached to close it, when in fact HMRC has not yet informed the Kendal office of the outcome of the consultation."