by Nick Lillitos
nlillitos@thekmgroup.co.uk

Just days into the new year and staff at the DVLA office in Maidstone are bracing themselves for the jobs axe.

The office, which employs 30 people, is set to close by the end of 2013 under government plans expected to save £28 million.

Consultations with staff representatives have started and are expected to end on March 6.

The Maidstone office is one of 39 regional DVLA centres expected to close with a total loss of 1,200 jobs in a government move described as providing “best value for money for the taxpayer”.

But union chiefs are describing the action as “outrageous and unnecessary”, and are promising fierce resistance.

Under the proposals, the government plans to centralise work currently processed at the regional offices at the DVLA HQ in Swansea.

Roads minister Mike Penning said: “Centralising the DVLA’s services is the first crucial step towards making more of its transactions available online, allowing people to deal with the DVLA at their chosen time and place.

"This will mean quicker turnarounds and meet our customers’ growing needs.”

However, Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union which represents employees at these offices, described it as “devastating” for staff.

Mr Serwotka said: “With unemployment and inflation remaining high, these cuts to local communities are outrageous and unnecessary, and will further weaken economies crying out for investment.”

The DVLA became an executive agency of the Department for Transport in 1990. It is responsible for maintaining registers of 36 million vehicles and 44 million drivers.

The agency's work also includes law enforcement and collecting vehicle tax, with nearly £5.8 billion collected last year.