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Job losses as Hyde firm shuts down

14/11/2007

A HYDE factory has announced it will be closing its doors and leaving at least 50 people out of work.

Castrol UK Ltd has had made Hyde its base for many generations, producing oil and industrial cleaners.

But in a shock announcement last week workers were told that their jobs were only safe until the end of next year.

BP Lubricants employ 33 people at the production plant and has confirmed the cuts.

Castrol refused to comment but it is thought up to another 20 people work there and will also be out of a job.

An employee told the Advertiser everyone at the site was ‘shocked and depressed’ at the news.

Hyde Councillor Joe Kitchen said he too was shocked that yet another industrial company was leaving the town.

"It has been there a long time and it’s a big employer," he said.

"We lost Toray, we have lost part of Ashton Bros, there was Gallaghers a few years ago.

"It’s always a bit of a concern when major employers leave and obviously as a council we will be seeing if there’s anything we can do to help the situation," Councillor Kitchen added.

Economic chief Councillor Kieran Quinn said: "It’s a sad day for Hyde, it’s sad that we are losing jobs that have been on this site for decades.

"The council will work with the company to make sure that these members of staff are given every opportunity to find other work or re-train."

A spokesman for BP Lubricants said production would be transferred to other sites in the UK and Europe.

He said they regretted the job losses but felt the site was no longer ‘financially viable’.

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