American car firm, Ford, is to cut its Welsh investment and will halve the production of its new generation of petrol engines which are being manufactured in Bridgend.
The firm has announced plans for a reduction in investment from £181m to £100m.
Ford have announced that they do not plan job losses among the 1,850 workers at the Bridgend plant, but Welsh Conservatives have called for greater long-term guarantees that the firm is not in any way considering winding up its “rich history” of investment in the area.
Commenting on the news, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, said:
“Today’s announcement comes in the context of global restructuring by Ford, and it’s worth remembering the rich history they have in Bridgend – having invested nearly £3billion since locating in 1980.
“At this stage it is reassuring that no job losses are planned, but clarity and longer-term assurances must be provided to the workforce that this announcement will not affect Ford’s commitment to the area.
“Carwyn Jones is currently in America and I would urge him to use his proximity to the company’s board members to seek a meeting, not just in his capacity as First Minister but as an AM for the constituency most directly affected.”
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