Tumble dryer factory closure a 'community loss'

The Hotpoint site in Yate will close later this year

Residents living near a tumble dryer factory that will soon close down say it will be a great loss to the community.

Appliances firm Beko Europe told staff last month that its Hotpoint UK factory in Yate, near Bristol, will close on December 31, resulting in 142 redundancies.

The factory has been situated on Station Road for more than a century and has been well known by locals and different guises and names.

Beko said it will continue to provide support to employees and are grateful for their continued effort and engagements.

Ms Willmore says: 'You can almost tell the age of a Yate resident by the name they use for the site.'

"You can almost tell the age of a Yate resident by the name they use for the site, said Yate town councillor Chris Willmore.

Ms Willmore more explained that the site began as the Royal Flying Corps base in 1917, before it became Parnall's during World War Two. The site then became known as Jackson's, Creda, Whirlpool and now Beko.

"It's a real community loss there," said Martyn Page, local resident, adding that most families in the area have had relatives or friends that worked there.

“I know there’s been speculation over the summer. I know people who worked there years ago," he continued.

Mr Page says most people in the area have family who have worked in the factory

"I think it's really sad," said Harry Wynn, a former employee at the factory.

"I used to work there roughly a year ago and I’ve got friends who still work there. Nowadays, it’s not as easy to find a job – it’s quite competitive.”

Jennifer Murray, manager, J Hollister hardware, said there are only a few places left in the area that have been there for a long time.

“[It's] Very sad to see it go. All the jobs that are going to disappear. All the local people that we know work there, all going to have to find another job somewhere. It’s going to be very difficult.”

Ms Murray says there are not many places that have been in the area for as long as the factory

The factory means a lot to the people of Yate, said councillor Willmore.

"If you've lived here a long time, you probably have a family member or a friend who works here. But it goes beyond that.

Ms Willmore explained that when the site was bombed in World War Two, 53 local people were killed on this site.

"It has an enormous significance on our past and our future," she added.

She said that people in the community are focused on helping staff to get new jobs.

John Sweeney, Unite the Union, said the news has "impacted the workers massively."

"If you go in there now, there's third generation people working there. It's been a real community workplace for the area."

Mr Sweeney said Beko is supporting affected staff the best they can.

South Gloucestershire Council, which owns the land, also said it is supporting employees and is considering options for the sites use that will benefit the whole community and reflective of its history and heritage.