Wharf closures hit ARC drivers
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by Herren Hayes
Nearly 40 drivers working for ARC Southern and United Marine Aggregates (UMA) face uncertain futures following the announcement that three wharfs on the Sussex coast will close next year. The firms say that the drivers will be offered work at the remaining sites, but the aggregates market remains depressed.
The two companies are expanding their joint venture company Solent Aggregates to merge their two sand and gravel processing firms.
Both companies are transferring four wharfs to the enlarged business to add to the original operation at Southampton set up in 1992.
But production is to focus on only five of the eight wharfs—
Shoreham, Newhaven, Redhampton and Littlehampton — meaning three in Rye, Portslade and a second operation in Shoreham will close.
The transport operations of both firms will remain separate and ARC says the move won't affect its 20 contract drivers or the 18 UMA drivers, despite cuts in the road building programme keeping the market depressed.
ARC cut six drivers jobs earlier in the year and says any drivers working on wharfs to be closed will be given an opportunity to move to another site.
An ARC spokesman says: "Although demand won't increase we hope more orders will come our way and it will increase production and efficiency."