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Campaigners for 40 new tax office jobs to come to North Wales have described as “a kick in the teeth” the decision to instead base them in the south.

Despite a long-running campaign to get the new Welsh Revenue Authority based in Caernarfon , the government today announced the roles would be going to Treforest, near Cardiff, instead.

However, it will have a presence in both Aberystwyth and Llandudno to ensure staff have direct contact with users.

Arfon AM Sian Gwenllian had argued for the new body to be set up in Caernarfon, recruiting bilingual staff to deliver bilingual services for people across Wales.

Porthmadog Town Councillor Simon Brooks had also campaigned for it to come to North Wales said: “It’s gutting news. It’s a real kick in the teeth to be honest. Once again we see north Wales being ignored and more public sector jobs created around Cardiff.

“With the dedicated Welsh-language tax office in Porthmadog, locating the Tax Authority here would have created a tax hub. We have expertise in Porthmadog in collecting taxes, and this would have offered well-paid jobs and careers in Gwynedd. Young people could have stayed in the area, young people who now all go to Cardiff.

“What is the point of devolution just to create a mini-me London in Cardiff. Chance after chance to create meaningful employment in Gwynedd and north Wales are ignored by the Welsh Government.

“Gwynedd is the county with the lowest average income in Wales. Rural Gwynedd has the lowest income of anywhere in the UK, but it seems that nobody in the Welsh Government cares. The new Tax Authority, the new S4C headquarters – every new investment is made along the M4 corridor. The Welsh Government needs to be a government for Wales and not just Cardiff and the M4. It simply isn’t good enough.”

The WRA It will be the first non-ministerial government department created by the Welsh Government and collect around £1bn in taxes over the next three years to fund public services in Wales.

In a statement, Cardiff West AM Mr Drakeford said: “These people will have a high degree of expertise and specialist skills in tax compliance; digital services and data management. The detailed options analysis, covering a shortlist of six potential locations in different parts of Wales, concluded that to attract and retain these specialists it is important the WRA is located in the same area of Wales as other organisations carrying out similar functions.

He added: “The headquarters for the WRA will be based in Treforest in the first instance. The Treforest location is a clear demonstration of our commitment to spread prosperity into the South Wales Valleys.”