JOBS in Chester are at risk under government proposals to close all regional offices of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Chester is one of 39 offices across the country that are expected to close by the end of 2013, with the loss of more than 1,200 jobs.

Designed to save £28m a year, the proposal was said by the Government to be part of plans to make dealing with the DVLA easier for motorists and businesses.

But Labour said the timing of the announcement, just before Christmas, was “particularly insensitive”, while the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said the news was “devastating for staff”.

Roads minister Mike Penning said the 39 offices are expected to close by the end of 2013, with the loss of 17 jobs in Chester. Ten of the 39 centres include DVLA regional enforcement centres.

Under the Government proposals, the work done at the centres will be centralised at the DVLA’s headquarters in Swansea, in South Wales.

Mr Penning said: “This is a major step change which will make dealing with the DVLA easier and quicker for motorists and businesses up and down the country.

“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.”

But PCS general secretary Mark 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. DVLA senior managers have previously denied this is what they were planning, so to announce it just two weeks before Christmas is insulting and devastating for staff.”