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Last of Carnforth redundancies, but- BR DECISION ON FREIGHT YARD 'FINAL'
A B.R. spokesman said, that the date of the closure - brought about by "a changing pattern of traffic" - had not yet been fixed. Confirmation of the shut-down followed news given in a letter to Carnforth Urban Council last week from Mr. D.R. John, secretary of the local departmental committee for traffic staff. Mr. Stanley Henig M.P. has also been told that there is no question of the closure decision being reversed, writes Gerard Corr, but the latest redundancies were expected to be the last, be was informed yesterday by Mr. A. Armstrong, assistant general manager of the Midland Region. Mr. Henig had asked for the meeting after the announcement of the threatened redundancies last week. 'ALL EFFORTS...' "It emerged from our discussion that the decision was irrevocable," he said in London., "I am satisfied that British' Railways are making all possible efforts to find the men involved alternative employment in the area. "But it does appear that despite these efforts, nearly 50 men will be without work. "The task now is to look around to try to find other kinds of Work for the men." He said he would be having talks with the Carnforth Urban Council this week end to see what could be done to help. Mr. Henig added that he was satisfied that adequate consultation had taken place with the unions concerned before the redundancies went ahead. NOT TOLD He had complained to Mr. Armstrong however; that as the local M.P. he had not been informed about the redundancies and had only learned of them through the Press. Mr. Armstrong agreed that liaison could be improved and Mr. Henig agreed to discuss the matter with the district manager at Preston. Told by the "Guardian" of the confirmation, Mr. A.Haycock clerk to Carnforth Council, said it came as a blow to the town. They would have to find out how many men were involved and what was to happen to them-whether they would be offered employment elsewhere or be made redundant. He said he would continue to press for the meeting to be held. What was tragic was that Carnforth would lose its importance as a railway centre with the closing of the freight yards. It would be a loss of a major source of employment. The Council, he said. was pressing on with its plan to buy the old iron works site and to attract new industry to it but the problem in this was that Carnforth was not in a "grey", area and there were no attractive development grants.
Lancaster Guardian, 28th February 1969
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