400 jobs at risk at Barlborough plant

AROUND 400 jobs are at risk in the area after Tesco announced plans this week to close its distribution centre in Barlborough.
NDET 26-2-13 MC 3
Tesco distribution centreNDET 26-2-13 MC 3
Tesco distribution centre
NDET 26-2-13 MC 3 Tesco distribution centre

The supermarket giant is restructuring its distribution system in the UK, closing three centres and transferring 2,000 jobs to sites in Reading and Dagenham.

Bolsover MP Dennis Skinner said Tesco’s decision to close the Barlborough site and put 400 workers’ jobs at risk was a ‘disgrace’.

“This stinks more than that horsemeat scandal of theirs. Every little helps? Obviously that is not the case in Bolsover,” he said.

“Now they are expecting workers to travel 170 miles to Reading - it’s an absolute disgrace.”

Mr Skinner said that Tesco should be made to repay the Government grants they received when they came to the area following the pit closures.

“I am hoping they will think again - they have a reputation to keep and it has already been marred by the horsemeat scandal,” he said.

“I really suspect that this will make many people stop shopping at Tesco - there are alternatives out there.”

A Tesco spokesman said: “We’ve been reviewing our distribution network, and have this week told colleagues in Chesterfield that we will be closing that distribution centre.”

“Colleagues at Chesterfield will be offered jobs at other Tesco sites, including at the sites we have confirmed that we will be opening this summer, in Reading and Dagenham. Two thousand jobs will be created at those sites.”