Shropshire councillors in help vow over closure-threatened Novelis

Councillors have vowed to do "whatever they can" to help save hundreds of jobs at a closure-threatened Shropshire factory. Members of Shropshire Council held talks with bosses at Novelis in Bridgnorth yesterday.

More than 300 jobs could be axed at the foil plant because of "over capacity" in the European foil market and increasing competition from other countries.

A minimum 90-day consultation process has begun with staff at the Stourbridge Road factory as efforts are made to minimise the effects on workers.

Councillors John Hurst-Knight, Christian Lea, William Parr and Les Winwood attended the briefing with plant manager Steve Westwood.

Mr Hurst-Knight said: "We as councillors agreed that we would do whatever we can to help.

"Mr Westwood said at this time it is not really necessary because they are still working on various schemes to save jobs.

"So until the consultation period finishes there is nothing more we can say."

He added: "What is the encouraging thing is they are having various meetings in which they are sharing information with the unions and the workforce in general."

He said the company was looking at the positives rather than the negatives.

"They are doing everything they can to save jobs but there is not much we can do except give moral support."

Mr Hurst-Knight added: "At the end of the day the day there are going to be some job losses but the main thing is to save as many jobs as possible."