• Welcome to the ShrimperZone forums.
    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which only gives you limited access.

    Existing Users:.
    Please log-in using your existing username and password. If you have any problems, please see below.

    New Users:
    Join our free community now and gain access to post topics, communicate privately with other members, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and free. Click here to join.

    Fans from other clubs
    We welcome and appreciate supporters from other clubs who wish to engage in sensible discussion. Please feel free to join as above but understand that this is a moderated site and those who cannot play nicely will be quickly removed.

    Assistance Required
    For help with the registration process or accessing your account, please send a note using the Contact us link in the footer, please include your account name. We can then provide you with a new password and verification to get you on the site.

Whilst I can't be arsed with politics on here anymore... a brief history.

In 1985 there was a Customs & Excise presence in 5 buildings in Victoria Avenue (Alex, Portcullis, Carby, Heath (or Coleman as it was called) and Baryta. Plus you have Revenue staff in Heath and DHSS (as was) had an office there as well. Over 4000 people gainfully employed.

The reduction in the Civil Service started under John Major and staff numbers slowly started to decrease. The only Civil Servants in Vic Avenue are the 1800 employed by HMRC in Alex House (of which I am one).

All the empty buildings are awaiting a buyer. Portcullis is owned by Mapeley, a property management company, who HMRC sold their estate to in 2004. Mapeleys are a tax haven company by the way. Clearly with no jobs or investment in the town, there is little chance of Vic Avenue being a hive of employment in the public or private sector for many years to come.

As an aside a mate of mine wanted to buy up Heaths and turn it into a top class business hotel. Sadly the ground rents were too prohibitive and the plans never got off the ground.
 
Back
Top