Unite fury at council's green light for Benmore: 240 skilled jobs
at risk
31 January 2012
Members of Unite the union are furious that Liverpool city
council has agreed planning permission to allow a leisure facility
to be built on an area where for the last 40 years Unite members
have provided final delivery of all Ford's products to the north of
England, Scotland and Ireland.
Paul Finegan, Unite North West regional secretary said: “Our
members at Ford and Jaguar Land Rover are furious that Liverpool
city council’s planning committee has given Benmore developers the
go-ahead to build a new leisure complex at the site of the major
northern UK hub for Ford Transport Operations. This puts 240 local
jobs at risk.
“Ford has been providing skilled jobs in the area for over 40 years
and closure of the site as a distribution centre will result in a
move away from Merseyside. It also provides distribution for Jaguar
Land Rover to the UK and export markets around the world.
“Merseyside has taken enough blows. We need more businesses like
Ford and Jaguar to be part of its future to provide the skilled
work that grows our local economy. We will not standby and let our
members' jobs be driven out of the area.”
Liverpool City Council's planning committee met today to consider
the Benmore application to build on the site in Speke.
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For more information please contact: Karen Viquerat, Unite
communications officer on 07768 931 316.
