This Friday members of The Community Affairs Committee of Monmouth Town Council will be petitioning the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff.

The following petition asks for action on the denial of a Jobcentre in Monmouth. We will be taking with us all the evidence gathered from people who are experiencing problems trying to use Abergavenny Jobcentre, since ours was closed.

"We, the undersigned urge the Welsh Assembly Government to investigate how to provide support and effective information to people in Wales, who are looking for employment, training or trying to initiate a business enterprise, locally.

Since February 2007, when our Jobcentre was closed, Monmouth Jobseekers have had to travel to Abergavenny, a round trip of 35miles for their compulsory fortnightly registration. In this extremely difficult economic climate, unemployed people in Monmouth are being put at a humiliating, time consuming and expensive disadvantage to the surrounding area. Before the Jobcentre was closed and ever since, JobCentre Plus have brushed off the once-a-week, serviced office premises that has been offered by Monmouthshire County Council in their One Stop Shop, here.

We enclose the evidence collated from press requests for jobseekers to contact Monmouth Town Council to record their difficulties caused by the removal of their local Jobcentre

Monmouth Town Council's Community Affairs Committee urge that Jobcentre facilities be restored one day a week in Monmouth. We seek the support of Members of the National Assembly for Wales"

We are seeking the support of the National Assembly before contacting the Minister in Westminster who is directly responsible for Jobcentres in England and Wales. On Friday we will also visit the Jobcentre HQ for South East Wales in Cardiff.

What you can do: Come into the One Stop Shop this week to add your signature to the petition

Come with us to the Assembly steps on Friday, where the petition will be received. Please phone 01600 772209 for further details

(Monmouth Town Council)