WITH reference to your front-page story regarding the decision by Edwards Engineering to close its Shoreham and Burgess Hill factories (Shoreham Herald, January 21), I think the effects of this factory closure on the local economy are going to be more profound than we are being given to understand.
Edwards makes a range of products for use in various processes, but its most significant area of expertise is in the development and production of equipment for the sustainable energy industry.
The demand for this kind of technology is set to gro
w exponentially in the coming decade, as governments focus on their international commitments to reduce greenhouse gases and build more environmentally friendly power plants.
What a time, then, for a market leader in this kind of field to pull out, not only of the local area, but also the country.
It isn't just the 220 jobs that are going, but all the additional jobs that would be created when this expansion takes place.
It's not that Edwards is making huge losses.
This move is aimed purely at moving production where labour costs are cheaper.
Ex-Edwards employee Mr Farras is right to call on the government and the unions to do more to prevent the further erosion of our manufacturing base, and provide jobs both for those currently employed at the factory and the next generation of workers, whom we are going to be relying on when the economy revives.
And it's not enough for the leader of the council, Neil Parkin, to say he is saddened and disappointed by the closure.
Both the council and the local MP should be doing as much as they can to bring pressure to bear to get this decision reversed.
Nothing less than the complete reversal of this decision will do. With both the local AND general election looming, this issue must be front and centre on the agendas of all the political parties.
If Edwards bosses will not be persuaded from their decision to relocate abroad, then maybe the decision should be taken out of their hands, and the company nationalised, in order to guarantee the long-term future of the economy and the environment, which can't be left to the vagaries of the market and the narrow interests of individual enterprises.
S. J. Guy
Southview Road
SouthwickMrs Holland
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