Published at 15:16, Tuesday, 22 May 2012

NINETY-NINE jobs look set to be lost when a fish factory closes its doors.

The former Cumbrian Seafoods factory, at Moresby near Whitehaven, looks "likely" to be shut down following a three-month consultation into its future.

The decision has been called "devastating" by Elaine Woodburn, the leader of Copeland Council.

Owners Youngs Seafood Ltd, who took over the site in December, announced today (Tuesday) that it will be transferring its services to its 13 other UK sites because it is the "most sustainable option for the long-term".

Young's chief operating officer, Pete Ward, said: "Following formal consultations at the former Cumbrian Seafoods, now known as Ocean Pure, site Whitehaven, lasting over three months, we are announcing that volume from this site will be transferred into Young’s existing facilities.

"Factors considered, as part of the consultation process, included cost, financial sustainability, quality and technical standards, and manufacturing capabilities of the sites.

"Unfortunately the phased transfer of volume is likely to result in the closure of the Whitehaven site with the loss of up to 99 jobs in the next month.

"We will confirm exactly how the volume will be distributed amongst Young’s sites in the coming days with the aim of achieving the most robust and sustainable manufacturing operating model for the long-term.

Cumbrian Seafoods, as it was then known, called in the administrators on December 5 last year because of rising raw material costs.

However, the business was immediately sold to Lion Capital, the owners of Young’s, which secured the short-term future of the factory over the busy Christmas and New Year period. The consultation into possible job losses was then announced on January 3.

Elaine Woodburn said: "This is disappointing and devastating news for everyone who works for the company. I feel Young's has let down its workers and seem to have bought the contracts with no intention of retaining the workers or the site itself.

"People have been working hard to help retain the work but obviously it has been unsuccessful.

"FLAG [the North and West Cumbria fisheries local group] is working to make seafood operations in this area more viable but sadly Young's vision doesn't not match with the wider aim to increase the wet fish operations on the Copeland Coast.

"We need to make sure Young's fulfil their moral obligation and do what they can to support the workers."

This week's announcement also means that Young's factory in Seaham, Durham, looks set to close with the loss of 281 jobs.

Mr Ward added: “The consultations have involved numerous meetings with the employee representative groups and local stakeholders and alternative options were considered in detail. External experts were also brought in to review the financial viability and sustainability of the various options for the future of the sites.

“We’d like to stress that this is not a decision that has been taken lightly and does not, in any way, reflect on the committed and experienced teams at these sites. They have continued to work hard during this period and are a credit to the whole workforce. Our priority is to continue to fulfil customer contracts, alongside ensuring that the employees affected by this announcement get the support they need by working closely with them, local agencies and other key stakeholders.”

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk