Help needed for community as LDV assets set to be moved out
Oct 19 2009 by Alun Thorne, Birmingham Post
Business leaders and politicians have welcomed the sale of LDV but have now called for help to be targeted at the community around the former Washwood Heath site.
City MP Liam Byrne warned that east-Birmingham urgently needed investment following the announcement that van-maker LDV is to shift assets overseas and to Longbridge.
Mr Byrne (Lab, Hodge Hill) insisted he had fought to save the van-maker in his constituency. Hodge Hill already has the third-highest unemployment rate in the country, with 5,106 people, 16.9 per cent of the working population, claiming Jobseekers Allowance. The figure doesn’t include people who are unemployed but not claiming the allowance, including people on incapacity benefit.
Mr Byrne, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: “I worked hard to keep production and won the offer of £5 million worth of government financial support for bidders.
Today’s news makes it even more important that we get new investment. We need an alliance where politicians, business, the not-for-profit sector and our public servants join forces to get the east of the city working again.”
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce chief executive Jerry Blackett welcomed the investment into LDV and was pleased to see the Longbridge site being put to use.
While Eco Concept’s plans to employ 200 in the region and build 2,000 vehicles a year are considerably scaled back from the former LDV operation Mr Blackett said any progress was welcome.
He said: “We welcome the investments in the region’s economy. By moving to Longbridge 200 new jobs are being created using manufacturing skills which are inherent in the West Midlands.
Mr Blackett added: “It is a pity that it isn’t UK ownership but nevertheless we would welcome anything.”
Birmingham City Councillor Neville Summerfield, cabinet member for regeneration, vowed to find a new use to bring LDV’s former factory back from the dead.
The Washwood Heath factory does not feature in the plans for Eco Concept, bringing an end to more than a century of manufacturing on-site.
Coun Summerfield (Con Brandwood) said: “The council and LDV Taskforce will continue its work to support individuals and businesses affected by the closure, whether directly or in the supply chain.”
