CHIPPENHAM MP Michelle Donelan has held urgent talks with bosses at Cooper Tires in Melksham after the American-owned company announced plans to close its factory next year.

The factory in Bath Road is due to close at the end of December 2023 with the potential loss of up to 350 jobs.

Miss Donelan said her door “is always open” to workers who need advice and help to gain jobs with other employers in Melksham and the surrounding area.

She added: “Obviously, I am very sad about the news. The have got over 300 employees.

"I do feel for those people who found out the very unsettling news about their jobs, especially at a time when we are facing rising costs of living.

"I can understand how worried they will be about this and that's why I will be making sure that they are getting the support they deserve.

"My door is always open should they wish to contact me."

After Friday’s meeting, she added: “This afternoon I met with the leadership team at Cooper Tires who informed me that they are in the process of talking to their employees about the closure and will prioritise their welfare.

“Cooper Tires will shortly be starting a consultation process with their employees and I will stay in close contact with Cooper Tires throughout this period.

“Cooper Tires have made it clear that the site and jobs will remain until December 2023, plus a package is going to be given to support staff as well as redundancy.

“Next year closer to the date they will be organising lots of opportunities with local employers.

“If any staff need my help with this or anything, please do get in touch with me via email michelle.donelan.mp@parliament.uk”

Melksham’s mayor Simon Crundell said: “It is with immense sadness that we have learned of the closure of the Cooper Tires factory in Melksham.

“Founded in 1885, the factory has been at the heart of Melksham’s economic and cultural life for many generations, putting Melksham on the map.

“I will be meeting with representatives in due course to discuss how the 350 employees can best be supported throughout this difficult time, and although this is a sad day for Melksham, my thoughts are with the employees of the factory.”

Wiltshire Council leader, Cllr Richard Clewer, said he was “very sad” to hear the news that the factory is to close at the end of 2023.

“Cooper Tires has been part of the DNA of Melksham for over a century. I’m not surprised to hear it, there has been ongoing uncertainty, but it is sad it has come to this.

“On a positive, there are a lot of employers around Melksham and they are looking for skilled workers,” he said.

Union leaders reacted angrily, with Tony Hulbert, from Unite, saying: “The timing isn’t great with mortgage rates going up and now potential job losses.

“They could have waited until the new year so we could get a picture of how 2023 was looking.”

In a statement, The Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe said it plans to close its UK tyre manufacturing plant in Melksham by the end of 2023.

The company will now begin a consultation process on the proposed closure involving 350 Cooper employees and the relevant employee representative bodies.

Gavin Champion, HR Director at The Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, Europe, said: “Our Melksham site has struggled to be competitive for some considerable time and everyone involved has worked extremely hard to keep operations going for as long as possible.

"However, this has become increasingly challenging in the current business environment."