Halton Council could kill our business (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Halton Council could kill our business

3:23pm Wednesday 26th November 2008

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THIS year I started what will be my 13th year with Ventcroft Ltd a mid-sized family run company in Runcorn.

Prophetically it could turn out to be an unlucky year if Halton Council continues to ignore the fact that it needs to address a very serious situation of which my colleagues and I are all too aware. This is in regard to the compulsory purchase of our factory on the Astmoor Industrial Estate due to the proposed New Mersey Gateway project to replace the existing Runcorn bridge.

At the moment Runcorn’s Halton Council do not appear to be concerned or have any sense of urgency in resolving quite a long running compulsory purchase order process.

As time progresses the options open to my employer are becoming limited.

As he and his wife are of retiring age, he could quite comfortably close up the business leaving about 45-50 well-trained people unemployed, or he could take the whole business from Runcorn over to North Wales which, for my part will be fine, but my colleagues will be given a stark choice of either moving with the factory or joining the ranks of the unemployed.

More urgency should be placed on ensuring continuity of our employment.

Employers don’t drop good employees and perhaps Halton Council should apply the same principle to local businesses – not forgetting that it is these businesses who are improving the finances of the council through the payment of rates and council taxes.

CARL MORRIS Wrexham

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