Eleven jobs to go at Cemex's Shap quarry
Last updated 13:52, Wednesday, 08 October 2008
THE credit crunch has delivered yet another blow to the Cumbrian economy when it was confirmed 11 lorry drivers could lose their jobs.
Cemex, the construction materials firm which operates Shap Quarry, near Penrith, has launched a consultation on the redundancies blaming the economic downturn and the flagging building sector.
The drivers, who work in the aggregates division of the business are likely to go next month.
The company said in a statement: “Cemex can confirm that due to the downturn in the economy and the construction sector there has been a significant drop in demand for building materials.
“As a result 11 drivers in the aggregates business, based around Shap Quarry, may be made redundant. The consultation process will be completed during the next month.”
The announcement is the latest in a grim list of losses since the credit crunch established a grip on the county’s economy last month.
Just this week, jobs have already gone at the Carlisle car parts firm LSUK and could go at MFI stores at Carlisle and Workington, after it slumped into administration. In September an estimated 282 jobs were lost across Cumbria in sectors as diverse as TV news production, cheese making and car delivery.
The Cumbrian car sales and construction sectors are suffering particularly because of their exposure to the downturn in consumer spending and the collapse in house prices. The British Chambers of Commerce has warned a half-point interest rate cut is needed when the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee meets tomorrow.
David Frost, director general of the Chamber of Commerce. said: “The Government needs to say that business taxes will be cut. The Bank of England need to cut interest rates immediately and politicians need to get behind our businesses in these challenging times.”
