MANAGEMENT at a Morecambe plastics factory announced that 55 workers are to be made redundant this week.

Earlier this month The Citizen revealed that Moll Industries (formerly Souplex) would have to make redundancies if they didn't win new orders.

Unfortunately, new business has not been forthcoming and managing director Malcolm Holmes made the following statement.

He said: "We have experienced a downturn in sales over the past six months. A number of orders have been transferred to the Far East and there has been a general downturn in the demand for plastic commodities throughout the industry.

"Unfortunately, as a consequence of this, the company has had no alternative but to make 55 redundancies, including 10 voluntaries. The redundancies will take effect from Friday, October 1. The company is optimistic in securing new business for the year 2000."

At the end of last month several workers made calls to the Citizen complaining that 20 workers had learnt they would be made redundant reading a notice on the board. At the time Mr Holmes argued that the company were still trying to win an order to prevent any more redundancies. He also confirmed that the company were looking at merging with their sister operation in Gloucester. He said that wouldn't mean either operation would close down.

Rumours were rife on the shop floor for weeks at both the company's factories at Northgate and Westgate. One worker who contacted The Citizen said: "It's appalling news but, in a strange way, it's better than not knowing. At times we thought everyone would be going."

No one from the Transport and General Workers' Union was available for comment.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.