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Last car rolls off Ryton's line Last car rolls off Ryton's line
(10 minutes later)
The final car is set to roll off the production line at Peugeot's Ryton Plant near Coventry marking the end of 60 years of car making at the site.The final car is set to roll off the production line at Peugeot's Ryton Plant near Coventry marking the end of 60 years of car making at the site.
The plant closes in January with the loss of 2,300 jobs as production of the 206 is moved to Slovakia.The plant closes in January with the loss of 2,300 jobs as production of the 206 is moved to Slovakia.
A union leader said the decision to bring forward the closure date to Tuesday was "callous".A union leader said the decision to bring forward the closure date to Tuesday was "callous".
But the company said everything possible had been done to support workers to find new jobs.But the company said everything possible had been done to support workers to find new jobs.
Most staff stop work on Friday, when the plant closes for the holidays, but the official closure date is 8 January.Most staff stop work on Friday, when the plant closes for the holidays, but the official closure date is 8 January.
'Damage inflicted' We can never forgive the company for the damage they have inflicted on you, your families and your communities Jim O'Boyle, the Transport and General Workers Union's
A small number of staff will be back at work next month to decommission the site.A small number of staff will be back at work next month to decommission the site.
The company said it had studied a union plan aimed at saving Ryton but said it was not viable, because it would cost an extra £70m a year to build a new model there compared with Slovakia. The company said it had studied a union plan aimed at saving Ryton, but said it was not viable because it would cost an extra £70m a year to build a new model there compared with Slovakia.
In a message to workers Jim O'Boyle, the Transport and General Workers Union's convener at Ryton, said: "We all know the sense of anger and betrayal many of you felt following the announcement of the closure.In a message to workers Jim O'Boyle, the Transport and General Workers Union's convener at Ryton, said: "We all know the sense of anger and betrayal many of you felt following the announcement of the closure.
"This was compounded by the company's callous decision to bring forward the closure to Christmas, in direct contradiction of the promise they made to maintain production at Ryton until mid-2007.""This was compounded by the company's callous decision to bring forward the closure to Christmas, in direct contradiction of the promise they made to maintain production at Ryton until mid-2007."
He said the company had remained "impervious" to calls for a reversal of the closure or for compensation for the early shut down.He said the company had remained "impervious" to calls for a reversal of the closure or for compensation for the early shut down.
"This response from the company has hurt everybody deeply."This response from the company has hurt everybody deeply.
"We can never forgive the company for the damage they have inflicted on you, your families and your communities," he said."We can never forgive the company for the damage they have inflicted on you, your families and your communities," he said.
Help with trainingHelp with training
A company spokesman said a total of 6,000 job opportunities had been offered to workers and there were still 70 jobs within the company in Coventry that had not been taken up.A company spokesman said a total of 6,000 job opportunities had been offered to workers and there were still 70 jobs within the company in Coventry that had not been taken up.
"Throughout this difficult period the group has made every effort to support its employees," the firm said in a statement."Throughout this difficult period the group has made every effort to support its employees," the firm said in a statement.
"Every worker leaves with an industry-leading redundancy package of between one and three years' salary and comprehensive support has been in place to help employees find new jobs.""Every worker leaves with an industry-leading redundancy package of between one and three years' salary and comprehensive support has been in place to help employees find new jobs."
More than 1.3 million Peugeot 206 models have been built at Ryton since 1998, with more than four million cars produced since the plant opened in 1940.More than 1.3 million Peugeot 206 models have been built at Ryton since 1998, with more than four million cars produced since the plant opened in 1940.