Matthew Taylor

Liberal Democrats | Truro and St Austell

CLAY NEWS “SHOCKING AND DEVASTATING” SAYS LOCAL MP

News that 800 China clay jobs (out of 1850) are to be axed by Imerys is shocking and devastating news for the whole of the Clay Community, says local MP Matthew Taylor. Mr Taylor has pledged to do all he can to help.

Imerys announced the huge cut this morning, with the transfer of all “coating clay” production to Brazil. The bulk of the jobs will go at the end of 2007. The cut represents almost half of the Clay Company’s business in Cornwall and Devon – most of it around St.Austell. The company says the decision is due to rocketing energy bills, which they say are making it uncompetitive.

Matthew Taylor last year helped the China Clay industry get special Government help with the climate change levy on energy costs, cutting bills by up to £1 million a year. At the time he said he hoped it would save local jobs, but in the event energy prices continued to soar.

Commenting, Matthew Taylor MP said:

“This is shocking and devastating news for St.Austell. It represents the closure of nearly half the China Clay business and the impact will be felt in every community here. After successfully pressing the Government to cut China Clay energy taxes last year, I had hoped we had avoided the worst, but it seems not.

“I spoke with the company first thing this morning, and will meet senior management this week. If there is anything I can do to persuade Imerys to stick with Cornwall I will – the China Clay area simply can’t afford to lose jobs on this scale. I am also in touch with Government Ministers – we will need the same kind of help here that they gave Birmingham when MG Rover closed last year.”