COUNCILLORS have said they will try and give as much support as possible to those people who could find themselves out of work with the proposed closure of Swallowfield aerosols and cosmetics factory.

It was last month when company owners KDC/One announced it wanted to transfer the business to Scotland where it had recently bought Swallowfield competitor Barony Universal.

Consultation with Swallowfield’s 259 staff is well underway, although it has been said that the possible closure of the Wellington factory was still just a proposal.

Members of Wellington Town Council met on Monday (December 1) for their full monthly meeting and chief executive Dave Farrow gave them an update on the situation.

“We have contacted Somerset Council and Swallowfield and relevant agencies and offered to provide support where we can,” he said. “We have been told that no definite decision has yet been made and this is still just a proposal.

“But we are here if they need us and we’ve said that the Kings Arms community hub could be used as a place where people can get advice and information from if required.

“We’ve offered our support to KDC and they have said they would be keen to work with us – when the time is right.”

Cllr John Thorne said he was dubious about the company saying it was still just a proposal and suggested that the decision to close had already been made.

“I do not believe for a minute that it is just a proposal,” he said. “I do not think we should wait for that decision to be announced – we should be ready for when it is made rather than waiting.”

Cllr Andrew Govier said the news from Swallowfield was “very disappointing” for the town and hoped the council could work with the relevant authorities and help people who may find themselves out of work with training and alternative employment options.

“Some of those who will be made redundant are well-paid and some of those jobs are specialist,” he said. “To think of the amount of income we are going to lose from the local economy is very disappointing.

“All we can do is to stand behind those people and support them when needed.”

Cllr Ross Henley said: “This is going to have a major impact on the local Wellington economy, but I’m glad we’re working with Somerset Council to see if we can support people.”

Cllr Stephen Mercer said he had heard on the grapevine that there were concerns that the brownfield site was already being earmarked for planning.

But that idea was soundly rejected by councillors and officers at the meeting.

“Good – I will tell people that when I hear it being talked about again,” said Cllr Mercer. “We need to squash these rumours.”

Although Cllr Henley said: “We cannot say what’s going to happen to the sites in the future. Undoubtedly the owners will look to capitalise on the sites and I hope they don’t just sit there and go back to nature.”