LEIGH MP Andy Burnham is to have a face-to-face meeting with the US owners of Ingersoll Rand after the announcement that the firm's Hindley Green plant is to close with the loss of 250 jobs.

He is meeting American representatives of the company to discuss alternative uses for the site and the possible retraining of workers who are likely to be made redundant.

The jobs are being axed with a decision to end the production of air compressors within the next 18 months. Management has put the blame on "increasing competitive pressures largely as a result of adverse currency movements".

After hearing the news Mr Burnham said: "We left no stone unturned in the bid to keep these jobs -- now my priority is to work with the 250 people affected and see if we can secure funding for re-training."

Mr Burnham will meet Ingersoll management, headed by US troubleshooter Dan Hawkins, tomorrow to discuss proposals for the site where 450 are currently employed.

He said: "I want to find out exactly what plans there are and to explore all alternatives. We can at least hold on to the fact that Ingersoll Rand are not planning to close down the site but are looking for alternative uses."

The company intends to phase-out compressor production at the plant during 2002 or possibly the first quarter of 2003 and says up to 250 jobs may be lost.

Appreciation

Ric Stolzenberg, vice president of Global Operations, owners of the Hindley Green plant, said: "The company wishes to place on record its appreciation of the efforts by the workforce over the years that has rightly earned the Hindley Green plant a reputation for quality, reliability and customer satisfaction.

"We are confident the company will continue to demonstrate that same ability to meet its commitments during the closure period."