A Goodyear taskforce is being set up to help employees “devastated” by plans to close the firm’s Wolverhampton plant.

A total of 330 employees are expected to lose their jobs after Goodyear Dunlop, which closed its Dunlop Motorsport factory last year, announced plans to close the Stafford Road plant.

Wolverhampton City Council has today begun to establish a Goodyear taskforce to help workers hit by the closure.

The move is set to end Goodyear’s 88-year association with Wolverhampton, and put an end to more than a century of manufacturing in the West Midlands.

Councillors, along with MP Emma Reynolds, Job Centre Plus, Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, and Local Enterprise Partnership, held an emergency meeting at Wolverhampton Civic Centre today (June 26).

A potential taskforce is being lined up to put in place practical measures for those facing the threat of redundancy, should it be required.

Coun Roger Lawrence, leader of the council, said: “We cannot stress enough how much we hope Goodyear reconsider this proposal to close the factory.

“Goodyear has been in the city for decades and there are many families who have been left shocked and devastated by this news.

“Should the worst happen we must find a way forward for those affected by the proposed closure in January 2017.

“A taskforce would provide practical support to those facing redundancy and help them find new opportunities in the city, where a number of companies are growing thanks to our regeneration efforts, which are starting to bear fruit.”

MP Ms Reynolds (Lab Wolverhampton North East) added: “We hope there might still be a possibility the company will reconsider its decision and we will be working with both the company’s management and trade unions to find a way forward.

“In the meantime, should redundancies happen, we are working towards establishing a support taskforce – and we would also encourage Goodyear to be part of that.”

Emma Reynolds MP
Emma Reynolds MP