Council in plea to save Knighton factory and jobs
A personal plea to save a factory and the jobs of 42 people has been sent to the group president of its parent company in America.
Knighton Town Council sent the heartfelt letter highlighting the effects the closure of Benson's Heating will have on the town to David Lagrand, the Group President of Nortek's Residential Heating and Cooling Segment, the company which owns Benson's Heating.
The letter asks him to intervene in the proposed closure of the Ludlow Road factory, to look at the whole picture and satisfy himself that the closure of the factory is the best option for the company.
Written mainly by town councillor John Watson and town clerk Neil King, it states that town councillors understand the need to make profit but ask Mr Lagrand to realise that much of the value of the company lies in the skills and talents of the labour force.
They point out that Benson Heating is one of the largest employers in Knighton and offers well-paid, highly-skilled work which could not be replicated elsewhere in the town. They state that about 150 of the town's people will be affected by the closure, which accounts for about five per cent of the town's population.
The council says of the 42 who would lose a job if the factory closes, many of them would look to leave the town and find jobs elsewhere, and in fact it is believed many are already doing so.
The members' letter says this loss of workers will lead to a lack of demand in the local economy affecting other local businesses, services and the viability of the local school.
In May, employees at Benson Heating were told of plans to close the site by the end of the year and were given 90-day statutory notices.
Benson's parent company had reviewed its European manufacturing section and said it had decided to reduce its manufacturing bases from four to three by closing the Knighton site.
The company has been a leading supplier of warm-air heating products for more than 50 years, providing top quality heating solutions for the industrial, commercial, retail, horticultural and social building sector.
The Welsh Government has been spearheading discussions with the American parent company to retain and manufacturing base at Benson Heating.
But Knighton Town Council felt it wanted to show its support and solidarity with workers at the factory and decided to write its letter as a direct appeal for help.
A copy of the letter has also been sent to Benson Heating for the employees to see that the Town Council is in support and is doing all it can to help.
When the Journal checked on Wednesday, no reply to the letter had been received by Knighton Town Council.
