Staff left reeling by jobs blow (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Staff left reeling by jobs blow

3:04pm Thursday 1st February 2007 in News

Up to 360 jobs could go in the proposed closure of the Somerfield distribution depot at Ashchurch.

It would mean the loss of 180 warehouse jobs and possibly 180 drivers in the regional transport section, which serves Tewkes-bury and the depot at Ross-on-Wye which is also closing.

Wincanton Distribution, which operates the depot and dist-ribution system on behalf of Somerfield, is now in a 90-day consultation period with emp- loyees. It will then announce when the warehouse and lorry depot will close.

The two depots at Brockworth are not closing and some of the staff may be offered jobs there They say that the closure is the result of the simplification of the Somerfield business and a streamlining of operations, and is no reflection on the performance of sites and staff.

Spokesman Holly Porter said: "It mirrors changes in their business and 400 jobs will be created elsewhere."

Cain Bolton has worked at the depot for five or six years.

He said: "We heard rumours it was closing in November, but nothing happened.

"I am not particularly worried, but jobs are few and far between in Tewkesbury."

A driver, who has asked not to be named said: "It is sad. I have worked here since it opened."

He was then told by security guards at the site that he was not allowed to speak to the press about the matter.

The Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Bruce Keene, said: "A loss of that number of jobs will always affect the town. It is not good news."