Hundreds of jobs are at risk as Pilgrim's UK has revealed plans to close its site in Ashton-under-Lyne.

The abattoir on Bow Street has attracted numerous protests in recent years by several animal rights campaign groups. 

Announcing the decision on Wednesday (17 May), Pilgrim's UK said it is proposing to shut down the major site as "part of further measures to fully optimise its operational footprint across the UK and return to growth". 

The firm also cited the "most significant challenges" that the pork sector has faced in its history, with the UK sow herd "having contracted by around 15 per cent and loss-making farmers leaving the industry due to a sustained period of high production costs and lower pig prices".

It added that "at the same time, an increasing and on-going reliance in the UK on cheaper, lower welfare imports from the EU and post-pandemic recovery challenges within certain markets has negatively impacted UK production." 

Pilgrim's UK - one of Britain's largest pork providers - introduced a four-day week at the Ashton plant last September, as well as shutting its site in Coalville and the imminent closure of the Bury St Edmunds site. 

The company now plans to transfer the existing operations in Ashton to its facilities in Spalding, Westerleigh and Bromborough "in order to continue to optimise the business' operational footprint". 

Rachel Baldwin, Vice President of Human Resources at Pilgrim’s UK, said: “The decision to propose the closure of our Ashton site has not been taken lightly and we have made every effort to explore alternative options.

"A key part of our work to return to growth includes ensuring we fully optimise our operational footprint and the age and location of Ashton within a densely populated area means that there is no feasible opportunity to modernise or grow the site. As a result, these proposals are unfortunately essential to ensure a sustainable future for our team members across the UK." 

The announcement puts all 542 Ashton team members, at all levels, at risk of redundancy. The proposals will create 90 additional roles split between Westerleigh, Spalding and Bromborough.

A spokesperson for Pilgrim's UK has said the business will now enter into "a period of collective consultation" with site union and employee representatives. They added that "full support and guidance" will be provided to anyone at risk of redundancy, including support in seeking alternative roles both inside and outside of the Pilgrim’s UK organisation.

'I don't think people realise just how big of an impact this will have' 

The news has been met with concern by two of Tameside's MPs, whose constituencies include where the facility is based on the Ashton-Dukinfield border. 

In a joint statement, Denton MP Andrew Gwynne and Ashton-under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner said: “This is an incredibly concerning proposal, which puts lives and livelihoods at risk right in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.

“Our thoughts are with the Pilgrims’ employees who are understandably extremely anxious about their jobs and finances.

“We'll be writing to Pilgrim’s UK to urge them to reconsider this decision, and to engage with workers, elected representatives and local people to avoid this closure. We will also be liaising with trade unions to see if there’s anything more we can do to help them at this worrying time.”

The leader of Tameside Council described it as "disappointing" and said the local authority's priority is supporting those who may lose their jobs. 

"The announcement from Pilgrim proposing to close down their Ashton site is disappointing news given that they are a long standing, large employer in Tameside," Councillor Ged Cooney said in a statement. 

“The Ashton site employs 542 members of staff who will no doubt be very concerned about the proposal in what is an already financially difficult time. And so our priority now is supporting Pilgrim and those individuals to reduce any unemployment outcomes.

“We are working at pace alongside MIDAS and our Greater Manchester and regional partners including DWP/JCP and the Growth Company on a co-ordinated package of support should a final decision be made to close the site. 

“As always we continue to seek investment and growth opportunities to support our workforces and businesses across the borough.”

Tameside Council leader Councillor Ged Cooney 

Dukinfield councillor Jackie Lane's son completed his work experience at the abattoir site. She said that she had wanted him to carry out manual labour there so that he could experience the camaraderie of factory work.

The Labour councillor told the Tameside Reporter: "He loved it - he said he liked working with the people because when you're working factory life, which I've also done in the past, you all look after each other and it's just like one big family.

"I'm really upset for the workers and their families. It's not only devastating for us, but also for the economy of Dukinfield and surrounding areas too; it must be our biggest employer here in Dukinfield.

"I don't think people realise just how big of an impact this will have. Pilgrim's provide joints of meat to the food pantry on Wellington Parade so it's got a huge knock-on effect onto so many areas of our community."

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