30 Ludlow jobs safeguarded in 'huge' expansion

Ludlow's former highways depot at Coder Road has been sold to hydraulic parts company Flowfit, it has been revealed.

The offices, plus the former household waste site and anaerobic digester next door, were hoped to become a pioneering green business park, but a combined community bid by multiple charities and organisations for the site was turned down in January.

Now Flowfit managing director Simon Parsonage has said the offices will be converted into much-needed extra space which will allow the company to stay in Ludlow as it experiences "huge growth".

The one-acre site will provide 18,000 square feet of offices, manufacturing , and storage, he said.

The move will mean Flowfit can remain based on Ludlow Business Park on the adjoining Pary's Road.

Formed in 1996, Flowfit is and is owned by local businessman Mr Parsonage along with director Tony Cole and shareholders Sharon Parsonage and Brenda Cole.

The firm specialises in the manufacture and supply of hydraulic components and systems supplying some 45000 customers worldwide.

Mr Parsonage said: "We are absolutely delighted with the outcome of securing badly needed extra warehousing and manufacturing space to cope with the huge growth and expansion we are enjoying at present.

"(We) would like to put on record thanking all at Shropshire Council for supporting and believing in a Ludlow-based company who will continue to grow, expand and deliver more jobs for local people.

"The new site will also allow us to expand our engineering and manufacturing division forthwith."

He said it tied in with news the firm had had of an international company coming to Ludlow this year that was hoped to create yet more jobs, but he could not give more details at the present time.

The Flowfit deal has come after a rival bid by green charities and businesses was turned down by Shropshire Council.

They had come together with education providers and eco enthusiasts last year in the hope of turning the town's derelict rubbish tip and highways offices at Coder Road into a trailblazing base for multiple green organisations.

But despite months of talks and high hopes for the "Zero Waste Enterprise Hub", spear-headed not-for-profit organisation Cwm Harry Land Trust, the proposal was confirmed as dead in the water in January.

Cwm Harry chief executive Adam Kennerley said the trust still owned the anaerobic digester next door and had not given up on plans to create the UK's first biogas-industry training rig in the town – which could still attract students from all over the country to train in the rapidly-expanding industry that uses crops, food and animal waste to create fuel.