Ards Job Losses May Only Be Start: MLA

The possible knock-on effect of imminent job losses at a County Down yarn and fibre manufacturer is causing more widespread concerns – as a member of the Assembly’s Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee has pointed out.

MLA Robin Newton, who has considerable experience of the sector over decades of working in consultancy within the textile industry, has commented on the likely effect if over 100 workers at Regency Spinning in Newtownards are indeed made redundant, as is now widely anticipated.

Already, despite silence from the factory’s owner, a union representative, David McMurray from the Transport and General Workers union is aware that "of the 112 people employed at Regency Spinning, 97 will be made redundant on Monday.

"The other 15 will be kept on to run the factory down and clear up orders," Mr McMurray added.

While the management has not been available for comment, it is anticipated that a receiver is taking over the plant and paying the staff off.

However, Robin Newton points out that it currently supplies its sister company, Regency Carpet Manufacturing, of Balloo, Bangor, with woven fibres for the manufacture of carpets, so the knock-on effect could be even more significant.

As a member of the Assembly’s Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee and the Employment and Learning Committee, he said he is concerned about the overall impact on employment.

“If Regency Spinning is indeed to close, as now seems inevitable, then its sister company, Regency Carpets in Bangor, will have to buy what is now an increasingly expensive product on the open market instead of it coming from Newtownards, as is now the case,” he said.

“Obviously, in the absence of a statement from the owner - who is regularly abroad on other business - this must only be speculation – but I would be concerned not just for the jobs in Newtownards, but also those of the workers in Bangor as well,” he commented.

“Some clarity would be helpful,” he said.

(BMcC)