Mr Dunne said today: "I am very concerned that the manufacturing employment base of Bridgnorth is being threatened by the huge rise in energy costs. I have called on Advantage West Midlands to prioritise extending natural gas supply to the town's industrial estates."
Earlier this summer Bridgnorth Aluminium, one of the largest employers in the town, reduced its workforce by 55 people, some 20% of the total employed. Mr Dunne commented: "I was told by the Managing Director that Bridgnorth Aluminium were paying 28% more for their energy cost this year compared with energy costs of its main competitor in Germany."
Last week, British Springs informed employees that it was consulting on the possible relocation of its manufacturing operations to Sheffield from the end of this year, citing its lack of natural gas supply on the Stanmore Industrial Estate as a significant reason for higher operating costs in Bridgnorth. Another 55 jobs would be lost to the town.
Mr Dunne added: "I was contacted at my mobile surgery last week by two employees who have worked hard for the company for many years and are naturally bitterly disappointed at this news. Again rising energy costs here in Bridgnorth seem to be partly to blame.
AWM helped fund the natural gas pipeline to Bridgnorth a few years ago, but did not extend the line to the Stanmore Industrial Estate. I approached AWM earlier this year on behalf of some of the leading manufacturers, including British Springs. Unfortunately AWM did not regard this as a priority. I have appealed to them again to try to halt these job cuts and preserve Bridgnorth's historic engineering skill base."
Latest unemployment statistics showed Bridgnorth District's unemployment rising by 28.2% over the twelve months to July 2006 to 600 claimants, an unemployment rate of 1.7%.
