Ineos announcement is a ‘huge blow’

Confirmation that Ineos will now build its Grenadier vehicles at a site in France following a deal with a German car maker has been described as a bitter disappointment by the Leader and Cabinet of Bridgend County Borough Council.

Despite significant efforts and investment from a taskforce featuring officials and experts from Welsh Government and the local authority, Ineos has now publically announced that its plan for locating to the former Ford Engine Plant site in Bridgend County Borough will not proceed.

Council Leader Huw David said: “After all of the hard work and efforts of the Welsh Government-led Bridgend Taskforce on supporting Ineos’ ambitions to locate here, this is a huge blow.

“Ford operated successfully from Bridgend for more than 40 years, and in that time developed a local workforce of loyal, highly-skilled employees.

“Ineos prides itself on being a British firm, and their interest inspired new hope among those workers, especially in light of the economic impact of both Brexit and the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.

“I can only imagine the bitter disappointment that those men and women must now be experiencing.”

Councillor Richard Young, Cabinet Member for Communities, added: “We call upon Welsh Government and UK Government to continue to work on delivering solutions designed to make and encourage urgent new investment and employment, safeguard existing jobs and ensure the long-term economic well-being of Bridgend County Borough.

“The area needs significant and urgent investment, and the council will do all that it can to support the delivery of this for local people.”