Calls for ‘green’ bus building to save jobs

COUNCILLORS IN Scarborough have called on the Government to encourage more bus building to safeguard jobs at one of the town’s manufacturers.

The owners of Plaxton, Alexander Dennis Limited, announced on Monday that up to 650 jobs across the UK are at risk due to a lack of orders during the coronavirus pandemic.

The company employs 750 people at the Plaxton factory, which is based in Eastfield in Scarborough. There has so far been no indication of where the jobs losses could come from.

The Unite union and Scarborough and Whitby MP Robert Goodwill have called on the Government push through a £3bn scheme to build 4,000 new green buses as a way to safeguard jobs.

Scarborough Council’s leader Coun Steve Siddons said any job losses could be “devastating” to the borough’s economy.

He added: “Hearing the news about potential job losses at Plaxton is very worrying for the workforce and the town as a whole.

“Scarborough desperately needs more skilled well-paid jobs, not less, and I call on the Government to assist this business to get through this difficult time.

“New high-quality public transport and particularly low carbon vehicles will be essential to deliver a cleaner greener future and Plaxton is well-placed to assist that.”

Members of the opposition Conservative group on Scarborough Council have also released a statement urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson to act.

A spokesman said: “News of the potential loss of job losses at Plaxton will have a very significant impact on Scarborough.”