LETTER: I fear fate of our town is hanging in the balance

I spent 30 years of my working life within the factory known as EE / GE /Alstom /GE (America). I joined as a Craft apprentice in August 1951 at the age of fifteen. and survived until the redundancies of the 80s.

My major concern is the catastrophic loss of a plant that supplied the globe with turbine generators, transformers and switchgear. It is not just the loss of the thousands of skills from the main factory, we have an equal amount of losses from the supply chain that is involved in an enterprise of this size.

The site now stands empty, a memorial and epitaph to the thousands of designers,engineers, skilled operators and the many ancillary trades that worked within it walls. This is not progress, it's yet another step back into the dark ages!

This small town, although with a history of agriculture, has for many years attracted, welcomed and nurtured many engineering and commercial companies within its old walls. The town has provided land, housing and an astounding variety of skills and even scientists, to keep the companies at the frontiers of technology and enterprise.

Invariably, the town has a history of hemorrhaging companies, leaving the town in economic and social disorder. Stafford finds itself in this situation at this present time. The historic evidence is here to see:

Bagnal's Locomotives - founded in 1875, had a worldwide reputation for Engines of many gauges, large and small. This company was sold into English Electric Traction. It was moved to Rugby. A Stafford self inflicted wound!

Lotus Shoes - founded in 1814, closed in 1990's. Another supplier of skilled work. Supplied the world with high class fashion and day to day footwear.

Universal grinding Wheel, originally Rooper and Harris, founded 1893.The company prospered and during the 1970s employed 1,600 workers. Through the 1990s during various acrobatic financial takeover maneuvers, Universal was acquired by a French company. The company exists in a much smaller unit on a local industrial estate.

The British Reinforced Concrete Engineering Co - this company moved into a new factory during 1926. The factory closed during 1990.

Finally, the reason for this letter, GE (America) Formally EE/Alstom/GE (UK): The company was founded by Siemens in 1919, throughout its life it manufactured a variety of large electrical equipment, large generators for power stations, transformers and high voltage switchgear. All these for a global client base as well as domestically.

Looking at Stafford's failure to retain jobs and and be able to subscribe to the regions GDP, in any meaningful way. It seems to me, the town is at an economic cross roads. We can watch as a first class industrial estate evaporate into a housing estate. Or, a way is found of attracting other companies to use the site for what is is designed to do, manufacture some industry that will bring in Jobs, skills, training for the young and input to the areas GDP!

We could become a "dormitory" town, provide houses for skills and crafts who will commute to cities or other towns via our Motorway access roads. Or, even become a retirement haven for the midlands. Just imagine. Come to Stafford the retirement center for the Midlands. Specially designed for a great life, close to the shops,a National Park and Stately

Home just a short drive away!

I have written to Ms Theo Clarke, our new MP. When at work, Ms Clarke is surrounded by such depth of experience, knowledge and involvement. Not just on the benches in the Commons but in the other House, surely some of our questions can be discussed and perhaps answered?

The main question to be answered is, how does a town welcome a manufacturing company into the area. Is there any legislation in place allowing a County Council to make a deal with a company to stay in place for a given length of time.

As we are now free of the Common Market, can we now make our own legislation and make this Law?

This seems from my position as a pensioner the corporate scene is unfathomable, I can look at the devastation that is caused by the decisions made by a few in a boardroom, to me seem arbitrary and not caring for a work force.

I am also aware our economic model says that profits must be made, the bottom line on the balance sheet must be black, not red! Otherwise decisions must be made.

Stafford has suffered enough, as shown in our history. Of course I'm aware that Stafford is not the only place that is treated in this manner, its county wide.

I'm sure that many out there will recognise Stafford's plight. I feel Ms Clarke has a difficult experience looming.

Dennis Mountford, Stafford

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