The sudden closure of Monroe's factory reinforces York's need to fight for inward investment, council leader Rod Hills warned today.

He said the sudden loss of almost 400 jobs - announced yesterday by the shock absorber manufacturer in Manor Lane - would puncture any climate of complacency created in the city by historically low levels of unemployment.

"We cannot be complacent," he said. "These things come along and 400 people are on the dole at a stroke.

"We have got to fight to get firms to come to York and get firms to stay, and that is why the Inward Investment Board and the (council's) Economic Development Unit are so important."

Coun Hills said City of York Council was trying to arrange a meeting with the company next week to see whether it could be persuaded to change its mind. "If that proves impossible, we want to ensure that the people being made redundant get all the help they need in receiving benefits, training and fresh employment."

York's employment and training service, Future Prospects, and the North Yorkshire Training and Enterprise Council are both set to play a key role in assisting redundant Monroe workers.

Sandra Furby, manager of Future Prospects, said it would try to help employees not only find training and fresh employment but also by offering individual support like counselling and advice on benefits.

Paul Murphy, chief executive of York Inward Investment Board, said that if the closure decision could not be reversed, he would seek to use the availability of 400 skilled men in York to persuade other businesses to come to York.

York MP Hugh Bayley said: "I have spoken to the plant manager and I will be speaking to him again on Tuesday. If there is anything Government or local government can do to help this plant stay open, then I will make sure they do everything they can.

"There is nothing that has been said yet that has given me any optimism about the plant staying open, but I will leave no stone unturned in my efforts to help them."

Night-shift workers were formally given the bad news after they clocked on for work last night.

Some left the site after the announcement in the factory's canteenl.

One worker, who declined to give his name, said he had only been taken on at the plant last week and shared the bitter disappointment felt by his co-workers.

Click here for the Evening Press story from Friday, January 14, 2000.

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