A REMARKABLE reversal of fortune is expected to be complete tomorrow with confirmation that Vauxhall’s plant in Ellesmere Port will stay open.
Business secretary, Vince Cable, and Steve Girsky, General Motors’ vice chairman, have been pencilled in to visit the plant on Thursday as the manufacturer prepares to announce the creation of a rumoured 700 jobs there.
After being dogged with rumours of closure in recent months, it is believed the company will build the next generation Astra at the site from 2015.
Under the plans, annual production would be boosted from 145,000 to 205,000 cars, with a third shift to handle the increase.
The plans include a pay deal for the 2,100 employees and 700 suppliers at Ellesmere Port and Unite union shop stewards have been putting the proposals to workers this week.
The plan for Ellesmere Port is expected to include funding from Vince Cable's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, with the programme likely to require new apprentices and component companies.
In the best indication that Ellesmere Port will be kept, Karl Stracke, GM’s Europe chief said: “We want to produce cars where we sell them.”
