)perators hit hard times in North-we
Page 19
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
IE P&O group road haulage subsidiary P&O Roadways Ltd, lixstowe, is to close the Hawthorne Road, Liverpool, depot North Western Roadways. This will mean the loss of 69 3S.
The company said last Friday (July 18) that closure would How "totally unacceptable" A statement by the company Id discussions were in proess with staff and their trade lion representatives. It added: Ihe closure follows a long iriod of loss-making as the ilume of road haulage busiiss in Liverpool has progressaly declined, despite the best forts of management and nployees.
The further deterioration 4:ierienced in recent months id the worsening state of /ailable traffic in the area has .oduced a totally unacceptable vel of trading losses.''
Managing director of P&O oadways Ltd, Brian Rosier, deined to comment further, ex;pt to say that discussions were 3ntinuing over redundancy rms.
The P&O closure isn't the ld of Liverpool's haulage proems.
Road haulage contractors itsons Haulage Ltd of Kirkby is losses.
to close its Birkenhead, Argyle Street, service station with the loss of 17 jobs.
Managing director Brian Ritson blamed the closure on the serious effects of the recession on the Birkenhead area, and said that difficulty in establishing a fair rent for the site with Wirral Borough Council had been a contributory factor.
Ritsons have operated the facility, which comprises commercial vehicle and car repair depot and a filling station, for about 15 years Mr Ritson said the company's Kirkby base, which employs 70 people, was not affected.
And in St Helens, hauliers Heatons Transport is to place nearly all its staff on short-time working.
Director Robert Heaton said he could hold out little hope of an early return to full-time working.
"It is either a case of shorttime working or laying men off," he said.
Heatons have reduced their workforce from 160 to 90 in the past two years, • now the remaining employees face a reduction in hours, a reduction in pay, and an uncertain future.