Cooper Tires is blaming having to make up to 50 staff redundant at its Melksham factory on difficult trading conditions in Europe.


The factory, in Bath Road, formerly part of the Avon group but now owned by American firm Cooper Tire and Rubber Company, has been an important local employer for many decades.


A company spokesman said: “Cooper Tire and Rubber Europe Ltd confirmed redundancies at its Melksham site, attributed to continuing difficult market conditions in Europe.


“Approximately 50 employees in the manufacturing operations area will be affected.


“Consultation with employee representatives has started, through the Works Council, and reductions will first be implemented through voluntary redundancy and early retirement, where possible.”


The spokesman added that redundancies were expected to take place at the end of September.


John McGookin, the regional officer for trade union Unite, said the redundancies were bad news, but not entirely unexpected due to falling sales.


He noted that the firm had struggled to sell seasonal tyres, due to the mild winter, and that its storage depot in Bowerhill was still fairly full.


“This is very disappointing, but we understand that the car industry is a fairly fickle employer and manufacturers are struggling nationwide,” he said.
“We are led to believe that this was their strategy for 2013 anyway, but they have brought it forward due to problems trading in the Eurozone.
“Also, their new Serbian facility doesn’t seem to have taken off as it should have.”


Mr McGookin said Unite was working with the company to soften the blow felt by workers, and was calling for early retirement to be packaged with redundancy payments to make it more appealing to workers who were in their 50s.


Melksham Chamber of Commerce president Graham Ellis said: “This is a huge shame for those people who will lose their jobs, but there are jobs elsewhere in Melksham.


“Melksham has been weathering this recession far better than most towns, because it is a fantastic place to live and work, and we are delighted Cooper Tires remain committed to the town.”


He added: “We heard the other day that Herman Miller may be moving here, bringing 150 jobs, and, hopefully, there will be more opportunities in future for those who lose their jobs at Cooper Tires.”