72 JOBS TO GO WITH FLOUR MILL CLOSURE
ONE of Goole's oldest and largest employers is to close in April with the loss of 72 jobs.
Management at Timms flour mill have announced that the Boothferry Road site will shut in the spring, ending five generations of the family run business.
In a written statement managing director Jeremy Timm said: "It is with great regret that we have had to make this decision.
"However, we have to be realistic and the future for a small family mill such as Timms remains very bleak.
"By making this decision now we are able to honour all our commitments to our employees, customers and suppliers."
Market conditions are cited as the chief reasons for the closure of the 150-year-old company.
Mr Timm added: "The UK flour market is in an extremely difficult state, struggling with an estimated 20 per cent over capacity.
"In recent years further changes in the market have left the business in an extremely vulnerable position.
"We have reduced operating costs, but the mill has continued to incur losses during the financial year."
The family of Goole Fields farmer, Martin Belton, have dealt with Timms for over 30 years and he was stunned by the news.
"It has come as a complete shock to me and it saddens me greatly to see a local business like Timms close," he said.
"We sell to the grain trading side but this could have a knock-on effect.
"Timms are a good company to deal with, they only buy the best grain and they have supported local farmers."
Mr Timm declined to comment on whether attempts had been made to sell the business as a going concern, or what the future of the prime Boothferry Road site was.
"Those questions are not for public debate as they are in the realm of the collective consultation we are currently carrying out with the workforce and unions," he said.
It is understood that management and unions met on Tuesday afternoon but nothing has been made public.
The group's grain trading silo operation, Timmgrain Ltd, which employs 15 people and is based in Goole port, will be unaffected.
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Thursday 20 June 2013
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