Unions Accept Polestar Purnell Closure

The agreement for a phased run down and closure of Polestar Purnell has been accepted in a union ballot.

The agreement for a phased run down and closure of Polestar Purnell has been accepted in a union ballot.

Following a series of meetings with union officers and employee representatives, the company's proposal includes a detailed closure plan with the earliest redundancies in September, although some employees will stay to the end of the year or even in to next year.

Polestar Purnell will close fully in late Spring 2006.

Re-employment support, including a job centre, has been set up on site at Paulton, where the plant is based, to help employees find alternative work within the Polestar Group and in the local area.

Interviews have already been arranged for employees applying for jobs at the group's new site in Sheffield as well as other group companies.

Alan Fraser, the managing director at Polestar Purnell, said: "I have been delighted with the co-operation of everyone at the factory at this difficult time and would also thank our customers for their continuing support." Catherine Hearn, Polestar Group human resources director, added: "We are grateful to the companies in the local area that have called to offer support and to advertise their vacancies to help with the re-employment effort." The company will now start to market the Purnell site for sale.

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