Travellers’ camp threatens jobs
Tuesday 20th January 2009, 11:49AM GMT.
A technology company could be forced to move its contracts for work to America after travellers blocked off the entrance to its new £1 million extension, its boss has revealed today.
Jim Byrne, managing director of VA Tech in Halesfield 9, said they would take a decision in the next couple of days about sending contracts, typically worth in excess of £1 million to £1.5 million each, overseas.
He said the move would have implications for jobs in the Telford area.
The firm, which has been in the town for nearly 20 years and builds machines and supplies technology to the aerospace industry, had opened the new extension, which boosted its workforce from 55 to about 80, last week.
But staff have had to stay in a temporary home nearby after about eight caravans arrived on Thursday, blocking the entrance.
The firm has a subsidiary in the state of Ohio, which has been expanded after it was forced into a similar position a year ago when caravans set up camp near the firm.
Mr Byrne said: “We have US customers who have made mention of it. We felt sufficiently embarrassed to say we are going to do your contract in the States.”
Mr Byrne said they already felt a “sense of regret” having invested in the town, but felt they were getting no support.
Telford & Wrekin Council said a notice to quit had been served on the encampment last week and the authority would be working with all parties to take further action if necessary.
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Come on Star reporters, get out of the warm Ketley offices and get over and TALK TO the travellers.. ask them why – tell them (perhaps the others haven’t been so diplomatic about it).
Report abuse
Just get the council to eject them asap or get a forklift truck and physically remove them from the road leading to the premises.
Report abuse
Let jobs go abroad or shift the travellers??
T&W in conjunction with West Mercia Police have failed to act and this is the potential result.
Both organisations have the powers and are not using them – WHY NOT?
Come on our caring public sector leaders for whom we fund huge pay packets – explain yourselves – or do real jobs not matter?
Report abuse
Only in the UK!!!!
Report abuse
Why America, no-one else in the UK capable of carrying out the work in the meantime until the problem gets sorted, seems funny to me
Report abuse
Why has nothing been done?
Why do we tolerate this? T & W and the Police have powers and are scared to use them.Yet again we have to pay for this service!Joke!
Move them on and support our local employment.
Report abuse
J.Woodhead – I would say the reason America is mentioned is that the customers are American and the group already has a site ready to go in America.
To shift elsewhere in the UK would likely mean they would need to invest millions more in a new build and who’s to say that ‘Travellers’ (aka lazy, workshy, soap dodgers – not all, just the ones I have had encounters with) won’t scupper that too, as this country goes further down the pan every day and panders to these people because of ‘human rights’ rubbish.
Report abuse
funny when things get tough in this country we tale it out on the vulnerable, travellers etc
Report abuse
Still no action or response from Messrs Wellings and West.
Why am I not surprised??
Report abuse
Devon,
Whilst I have some sympathy with the idea that there should be proper stopping places for travellers, there seems a marked reluctance on their part to fund such facilities.
I agree that it is too easy to blame travellers, immigrants, asylum seekers, the unemployed et al during hard times, but these people are breaking the law and in doing so are inconveniencing others wishing to go about their lawful business.
Whatever the injustices of their situation, and no matter how debatable those are, they should not be allowed to prevent working people from getting to their jobs – especially when it is those very people who inevitably end up subsidising the travellers’ chosen lifestyle.
Report abuse
Stand by the barricades, on TV News a few minutes ago, the High Court has given the “go ahead” for the eviction of a gynormous traveller encampment in Essex with upwards of 1,000 people and 400 trailers and caravans involved. Some of the Mobile Homes are sites to be seen, magnificent and almost all the residents are from Ireland. They are going to need the Army as already the defences are going up.
One must ask the question (and I know the answer with an Irish wife)why they come to this country in such numbers if they know they are going to get all the hassle. You do not see this sort of massive problem in Eire albeit they still have a problem with travellers.
The travelling lifestyle is not compatible with a modern, advanced and developed society and it’s time these people realised that but at the same time, when they are not being troublesome with litter etc etc etc, I admit to having some sympathy for them – in Ireland.
Report abuse