THE axed third shift at Ellesmere Port's Vauxhall car plant could be reintroduced if it lands the contract to build the new Astra.

That's the belief expressed by the borough council's economic experts in a report on the aftermath of last month's announcement of 900 job losses at the factory.

Principal economic development officer Charles Holmes says in the report that his unit will continue to work closely with the plant to ensure it secures the contract for the next generation Astra in 2009.

A decision on this is due around Christmas.

He adds: 'If successful, significant investment will be required at the plant and the third shift will be introduced.' However, a Vauxhall Motors spokesman refused to comment on the possibility of the third shift coming back.

In his report to the council's community committee Mr Holmes gives details of a timetable for axed workers to leave the plant.

Nearly half of the 879 employees who lost their jobs on the third shift will leave next month.

And hundreds more positions will be lost at firms supplying the Vauxhall site in North Road.

Vauxhall announced on May 17 it was dropping the third shift on its production line, blaming ongoing pressure in the car industry to increase productivity, reduce costs and remain competitive.

At 1pm that day, the borough council chaired a Redundancy Response Group meeting of key partners like the county council, Government Office North West, North West Development Agency, Jobcentre Plus and West Cheshire College, to discuss how to help the affected workers.

Mr Holmes says in his report: 'Several key meetings have been held on site with Vauxhall management to assess the likely impact on the local community, and discuss the best approach to provide assistance.

'It has been established that a total of 879 employees will be made redundant, with the company expecting all to go on voluntary terms.

'The planned timetable is for 425 to leave on July 21, 234 on September 8 and 220 on September 30. The majority of staff leaving are employed on the production line.'

He said the mostly-male workforce was aged 30-plus, with 300 over the age of 50 who will qualify for their company pension.

He adds: 'Some 300 further jobs will be lost in the supply chain, with approximately 190 of these at TDS Logistics, a company based next to Vauxhall's.'

The Response Group decided that Jobcentre Plus will lead the help package, with £828,266 being spent on retraining workers for new jobs, providing a Job Shop on site showing vacancies, and helping with things like CVs.

A Vauxhall spokesman said: 'We are still working with individuals, if they have applied (for redundancy). We have got to get a balance when people go, to ensure we can still operate the plant.'

Brown positive after visit to town > > >

Brown positive after visit to town

CHANCELLOR Gordon Brown told MPs of his faith in the future of the British car industry, despite the axing of 900 jobs at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant.

He spoke out in a session of oral answers to questions for the Treasury in the House of Commons of Thursday.

Mr Brown, who visited the plant last month for the grim jobs news, was responding to borough MP Andrew Miller.

Mr Miller said: 'I thank (Mr Brown) for his recent visit to Ellesmere Port, which was truly welcomed by the Vauxhall workforce and management.

'What steps does he intend to take to enable UK manufacturers such as Vauxhall to position themselves so the UK can take a leading role in future vehicles beyond the internal combustion engine?'

Mr Brown answered: 'To visit Ellesmere Port, to have confidence that the workers there can win the next model for Ellesmere Port and to know that 1.6m cars are now being produced in Britain is to have faith in the future of British manufacturing, as long as it is modern and efficient.

'In addition to all the other measures we are taking, including the new institute to study environmental and energy technologies, there will be capital allowances available for investment in environmental technologies related to fuel.

'We are determined to have the most environmentally efficient means of producing fuel in future.'

Earlier in the session, in a separate question, Mr Miller had asked the Chancellor: 'What assessment he has made of the potential impact on the economy of Government encouragement of investment in science and innovation?'

Mr Brown replied: 'With science spending doubling since 1997 and research and development credits now worth £1.5 billion to business, Britain has seen 200 spin-off businesses created each year compared with 70 10 years ago.

'To support Britain as the world's best location for science, the Minister for Science and Innovation is announcing he will build on our proposed new institute for energy and environmental research and the single budget for health research by inviting the Royal Society to create new international science fellowships to bring the world's best scientists to the United Kingdom.'