Jobs to be lost in plantclosure (From Barry And District News)

Jobs to be lost in plantclosure

MORE than 20 jobs are to be lost as the Dow Chemical Company shuts its polystyrene production facility at Barry by the end of 2005.

The site employs 24 people, and the final number of job losses caused by the intended closure will be determined following an employee consultation period.

Louis Oostvogels, site leader for Dow Chemical at Barry, said: "The plan to close the polystyrene plant at Barry involves extremely difficult decisions, and reflects the competitive business climate that Dow faces in this industry.

"Since Dow Chemical came to Barry in 1953, the plant has given excellent service, due primarily to the support and dedication of its employees.

"But the plant has been running below capacity for several years and the business is forced to concentrate on the most efficient facilities, hence the plans to close the Barry plant."

Mr Oostvogels added that if the plant was to close, production would move to other Dow plants in Europe - situated in Greece, Belgium, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.