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Valleys Burberry plant to close Valleys Burberry plant to close
(10 minutes later)
The Burberry factory in the south Wales Valleys is to shut with the loss of 300 jobs. The proposed closure of the Burberry factory in the Rhondda Valley with the loss of 300 jobs, is "very disturbing news" says the area's Assembly Member.
A spokesman for the iconic British gabardine designer range said it was no longer "commercially viable" to keep the Treorchy plant open.A spokesman for the iconic British gabardine designer range said it was no longer "commercially viable" to keep the Treorchy plant open.
The company said they had "no obvious alternative other than to propose the closure of the factory". But AM Leighton Andrews said: "We've always believed it's a viable situation at Treorchy and we'll do all we can."
Unions will be consulted and if plans go ahead, the Rhondda Valley plant will shut early next year. Talks will be held with unions over proposals to shut the site early 2007.
The closure plan comes after a year-long review of its supply chain and manufacturing process. Speaking soon after the announcement, Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews said: "This is very disturbing news. It's a real blow to the community in the Rhondda.
"The Company will be entering into a formal consultation process with its union representatives today. Should the proposal be implemented, the Treorchy site would close around the turn of the year," a statement read. "I will be speaking to the company today, and I've already spoken to the First Minister Rhodri Morgan about this.
"He is ensuring that the Welsh Assembly Government's economic development team will also be making contact with the company, and obviously we want to find out the reasons why the factory is to close."
The company said the closure plan follows a year-long review of its supply chain and manufacturing process, leaving managers with "no obvious alternative other than to propose the closure of the factory".
"The company will be entering into a formal consultation process with its union representatives today. Should the proposal be implemented, the Treorchy site would close around the turn of the year," a statement read.