A FORMER Mayor has spoken of her distress at seeing people who have loyally worked at the Swallowfield aerosols and cosmetics factory in Wellington for many years being made redundant.

Company owner KDC/One has indicated that it will finally close the doors at Swallowfield for good on January 29, 2027, and the workforce is being trimmed down in phases.

It was late last year when KDC/One announced it wanted to transfer the business to Scotland, where it had recently bought Swallowfield competitor Barony Universal – meaning a catastrophic loss of jobs for Wellington.

Twenty employees were made redundant in February and March, while a further 56 staff were let go earlier this month.

A final 130 employees will be made redundant on January 29 next year – the final day of Swallowfield.

And Cllr Janet Lloyd, who has been playing a leading role in supporting the workforce in finding new employment, told members of Wellington Town Council on July 6 that it was a very sad set of circumstances.

“It’s very depressing there at the moment to see people who have worked there for many years being made redundant,” she said.

Advice sessions are being held at the council’s Pop-Up Shop for Swallowfield workers needing support.

“I hope those folks who’ve been working there for 30 or so years will come and see us and let us help them,” said Cllr Lloyd.

A support package for the affected employees has been overseen by Somerset Council and many organisations have gone into Swallowfield to speak to workers.

Cllr Andy Govier said: “It is good to see Wellington Town Council and Somerset Council working with other agencies to help the workforce.”

And Cllr John Thorne questioned: “I don’t think we have actually received an explanation on why the factory is closing.”

Cllr Lloyd said the buildings were in poor repair and that it was not ideal that the factory was based on three sites.

But how times change she added: “We were told a few years ago that it was going to become KDC/One’s European headquarters.”

Earlier this year Cllr Lloyd said: “It is depressing going into Swallowfield and speaking with the staff.

“News of the closure came as a shock to the town, a shock to us at the council and a shock to employees – it’s very grim.”

No sooner had the announcement been made late last year that Swallowfield would be closing, the town council immediately said it would do all it could to offer support to those who faced redundancy.

And Cllr Thorne, speaking on July 6, said: “We have stepped up to the mark over this. It is the biggest loss of jobs for Wellington for a generation.”

Councillors were told by Cllr Lloyd that massive ten-tonne tanks would be moved from Swallowfield and taken to Scotland and that would require the roof being taken off and would involve “lots of large vehicles” coming in.