FACED with a projected loss to the local economy of £46 million if looming job loss threats materialise, urgent government help is being sought for the district.

With Xerox possibly shedding 330 jobs from its 1,500 strong workforce by early next year, and trades unions warning that another 400 may follow, the Forest district council is seeking government aid for local industry.

"The loss of jobs at Xerox will have a serious knock-on effect across the entire Forest economy," Council leader Ann Martin told the Review this week.

"We need help in improving the district's manufacturing base. We have started the job – the progressing of those plans depends on government money through the Regional Development Agency.

"People tend to think of the Forest as being a predominantly rural area. In actuality, one third of Forest jobs are in the industrial sector, which is twice the national average, so we are hit extra hard by losses of this kind."

A report presented to the council's Economic Advisory Panel last week calculated that the annual spending power of Xerox and its employees within the Forest is around £46 million. The plant provides work not only for its own workforce, but for up to 500 others supplying ancilliary services.

The council's Economy overview and Scrutiny committee is meeting with trades union representatives at Mitcheldean next week to discuss the job cuts implications. A Xerox spokesman dismissed claims of another 400 redundancies being in the pipeline as "pure speculation", but was unable to give an outright denial.

"The main hope for providing replacement job opportunities for those being lost at Xerox, SCA and elsewhere is the development of industrial land such as that in North Cinderford as projected in the Local Plan," head of the council's Regeneration Services, Owen James, told the Review.

"In order for this to happen, we require a level playing field compared to assisted areas along the M4 in South Wales. At present we are trying to attract new industry with one arm tied behind our back."

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–The Forest doesn't

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