Plaid President, Jill Evans MEP has today visited the Neath valley to remind TRW of its social responsibility and to highlight the knock on effects that the closure of the plant would have on the local community. As well as meeting TRW workers, Ms. Evans and Councillor Alun Llewelyn, Plaid's Economic Development spokesperson on Neath Port Talbot Council, met local businesses who will be affected by the proposed closure.

Jill Evans MEP said;

"I visited TRW and met the workers ten years ago when jobs were under threat. I certainly didn’t want to return under these circumstances. I have written to TRW to remind the company of its social responsibility and to express my strongest opposition to the proposal to close. The company website states that, ‘TRW Automotive is committed to protecting the environment, its employees and the communities where it operates.’ The loss of 225 well-paid jobs is the opposite: a huge blow and one that the Neath valley will find extremely difficult to absorb.

“TRW is a worldwide company making huge profits. I don’t accept that such a successful business can’t restructure in a way that repays the trust and dedication of the Resolven workforce and of the local community. If TRW are really committed to protecting the communities where they are based, they would take into account the full impact of the closure on the individuals, their families and other local business and services.

“Today I have met with directors of John Pearce Ltd, a local haulage company that is dependent on the business that TRW provides. They’ve shown me the negative impact the closure would have on their business, their employees and the locality and I’m committed to helping them in any way I can.”

Clive Davies, managing director of the Glynneath-based haulage firm said,

“The loss of TRW will be a devastating blow to our business. They’ve been our biggest customer over the 37 years we’ve been in existence. We not only collect freight from TRW but we also transport freight to the plant from their suppliers. So the closure will also hit us indirectly.

“It’s not only a devastating blow for us, but a blow for the whole community.”

Councillor Alun Llewelyn, Plaid's Economic Development spokesman on Neath Port Talbot Council said;

"It’s essential that consistent support is offered to the Neath Valley to combat the long term effects of the TRW closure.

"We need to support local companies and aim to keep the experience and skills of the TRW workforce in the valley.

“I would like to thank our MEP, Jill Evans, for her support in fighting to keep TRW in Resolven.”

Diwedd/Ends.