Corus axes steel plant
More than 150 years of steel making at a Brierley Hill works is to come to an end, with the loss of nearly 40 jobs it emerged today. Steel-making giant Corus has announced it will be ceasing production at Cookley Works in Brockmoor at the end of December. More than 150 years of steel making at a Brierley Hill works is to come to an end, with the loss of nearly 40 jobs it emerged today. Steel-making giant Corus has announced it will be ceasing production at Cookley Works in Brockmoor at the end of December. In its 1960s heyday, more than 1,500 people were employed at the site on the High Street, although there have been just 39 workers there for the past 15 years. The site produces coated steel products for the automotive fuel tank market. But bosses say the plant is no longer profitable because of the increasing trend for use of plastic products. Union leaders say they are disappointed at the news of the closure but could not put a case forward for saving the plant. *Do you have any pictures of workers at the Cookley Works site from over the years? Call 01384 353208. Read the full story in the Express & Star
In its 1960s heyday, more than 1,500 people were employed at the site on the High Street, although there have been just 39 workers there for the past 15 years.
The site produces coated steel products for the automotive fuel tank market. But bosses say the plant is no longer profitable because of the increasing trend for use of plastic products.
Union leaders say they are disappointed at the news of the closure but could not put a case forward for saving the plant.
The site has been working to just 25 per cent of its capacity over the past year and, it is thought, many of the workers were expecting the announcement, made a few weeks ago.
Chris Bowles, site manager, said: "It is basically a commercial decision, it has been a bad year. It will be a shame to see the site close as it has been used for steel manufacturing for many years.
"At the moment, Corus is in the midst of negotiations to see if we can redeploy as many workers as possible to other sites."
Corus spokesman Robert Dangerfield added: "It is not the case that we will be producing less overall but we just won't be operating at this site as there is no longer the demand for this product.
"There has been a reasonably high take up of voluntary redundancy and the remaining staff are going to our other sites.
"Understandably, employees felt the future was uncertain but there has been a satisfactory outcome."
The Cookley works site is believed to have got its name as it was originally based in Kiddeminster but moved in the 1850s to Brockmoor for better transport links. The site will now be sold for housing.
*Do you have any pictures of workers at the Cookley Works site from over the years? Call 01384 353208.
By Helen Cartwright
