TAX OFFICE: The Newport Tax Office is housed in the distinctive tower block overlooking the Cenotaph in Clarence Place. It is on the border of the St Julian's and Victoria wards.

Some 143 people work there, more than half part-time. Their lives will be completely disrupted if the Inland Revenue plan to re-locate staff to the Llanishen office in Cardiff is implemented.

Apart from which, thousands of unnecessary traffic miles will be generated with consequence of carbon emissions, not to mention cost. To coin a phrase, this is the reversal of dispersal.

For years the policy has been to move jobs away from congested centres like London and Cardiff and take the jobs to the people to prevent unnecessary travelling. The meeting was chaired by the Newport office secretary, Richard Davies. Members of the public are urged to write to the MPs, AMs and councillors, urging united and determined action against this policy.

WETLANDS: Another of my public duties last week that was a pleasure and delight was to join the mayor and mayoress, Miqdad and Lindsay Al-Nuaimi, and about 200 others on the World Wetlands walk at the Newport Wetlands at Nash.

It was a glorious late afternoon as we strolled among the reed beds and salt marshes down to the seawall, watching a variety of birds.

The wetlands were set up when the Cardiff Barrage was built as an alternative to the flooded Cardiff Bay, and there is no doubt that Cardiff's loss is Newport's gain as the Wetlands are achieving international status.

The only disappointment was that the starlings have moved on, so we missed the spectacular roost.