Last updated 16:18, Wednesday, 22 October 2008

CUMBRIAN Seafoods is to close its main Maryport factory at least until next year. 

Up to 30 workers will be made redundant and it is understood only office staff will remain at the Cumbria Seafoods factory.

The company said today the that investment, announced in May, would be suspended because it has been unable to find enough business to develop the site.

But bosses said the loss of up to 30 jobs was “a dramatic improvement” on the position last year, when up to 70 jobs were axed after the company moved a large portion of its operation to Seaham in the North East.

A spokeswoman for the company said “substantial new business” at the Grants factory in Maryport and its Whitehaven factory has allowed many workers to be redeployed rather than losing their jobs.

Managing director Peter Vassallo said: “While it is disappointing to suspend activities at the Maryport factory, we remain confident that our continuing efforts to grow with our new found customers will see its rejuvenation in 2009.

“The number of redundancies is substantially less than was envisaged. The new business which we have gained for our other factories means that we can retain most of our Cumbrian workforce.

"The company remains a major employer in the county with 300 employees at its West Cumbrian sites.
“I am very proud of the Maryport workforce and what we have achieved together. I appreciate their support and efforts during the past 11 years.

"We are committed to growing the Cumbrian businesses to past levels and re-open the site as soon as possible.”

There have been ongoing rumours of redundancies in recent weeks but the spokeswoman said there have been no jobs lost as yet.
Workington MP Tony Cunningham, was in touch with factory bosses this afternoon and said he had been given an absolute guarantee that everything would be done to try and re-open the factory at the earliest - possibly even early next year.

“I have been assured that activities have been suspended and that the factory has not completely closed down.

“Obviously this is disappointing but I will be in touch with the development agencies to get them to work alongside the company.”
Within hours of a workers’ meeting rumours were circulating Maryport.

A worker, who would not be named, said he understood that 40 people would be redeployed from the factory - 20 to Grants and 20 to Whitehaven.

County and town councillor Bill Cameron, said he received a call from a worker who said the factory would be closed within three weeks.
Coun Cameron said Maryport had survived slumps before but he was angry that the community had been “fed lies” about the future of Cumbrian Seafoods.

“They were here when the grants were here and now, when the grants have run out, they go.”