One of Welshpool’s biggest employers is axing more than 10 per cent of its workforce because of a downturn in orders, it has emerged.

Bosses at Carpenter and Paterson, in Henfaes Lane, said that the company has been left with no other option but to shed its workforce from 102 to 90 because of falling sales.

They said 12 members of staff had received redundancy notices this week.

The company’s managing director Jonathan Lee said the redundancies were unavoidable due to the slowdown as a whole in British industry.

He said: “A number of the international projects that we have been following for some time have been either cancelled, put back or placed on hold as a result of the more general economic downturn.

“It was inevitable that this would impact on us at some stage. The projects are still out there and we can see some signs of a very steady recovery, but it will take time to build on this.”

One member of staff, who did not wish to be named, said the affected staff had been told on Monday and had all left by today.

Hopeful

“It came as a shock to everyone, it was very unexpected and totally out of the blue. But things like this are happening across the country at the moment and it can’t be helped. We’re just hopeful things will start to improve sooner rather than later.”

The firm, which was established in 1956, supplies specialist pipe suspension equipment to the power generation, petrochemical, oil and gas and allied industries.

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies said the news had come as a shock.

He said: “Carpenter and Paterson has been hugely important for Welshpool for more than 50 years now.

“I have a great deal of faith in the management and I’m sure they can make the business survive.

“All I can hope for now is that there is an upturn in the market very soon. It is one of the biggest and long standing companies in Welshpool and I will be doing all I can to support it,” he added.

Robert Robinson, Welshpool town clerk, said it couldn’t be helped. He added: “It is very sad and unfortunate that this has happened and it is through no fault of their own.”

By Anwen Evans