Euro-MP condemns factory closure

12.00.00am GMT Wed 13th Nov 2002

Liberal Democrat West Midlands MEP has condemned the announcement by the Beacon Centre for the Blind to shut Beacon Industries, leading to the redundancy of 45 blind and partially sighted workers.

The announcement has come just weeks after the Beacon Centre announced that the factory had been saved.

Liberal Democrat MEP and Vice Chair of the European Parliament All Party Disability Intergroup commented:

“I am deeply concerned at how the situation has changed over such a short period of time. The reports I have received all indicate that there was every reason to believe that the factory was still viable. Either way, to make people redundant in this way after raising their hopes and without consulting them is simply unacceptable.

“The whole of the West Midlands were united in outrage when Rover threatened to shut their doors in Longbridge. Obviously far fewer people are affected here, but the principle remains the same.

“Back in September, disabled workers manufacturing firm Remploy were celebrating a remarkable turnaround in their fortunes after facing a similar crisis to Beacon Industries. It is saddening to have received this news just months before the start of the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003.”