Questions will be asked at the heart of Government about the apparent lack of concern over the closure of Vestas and the loss of at least 500 Island jobs. Island MP Andrew Turner is writing to the Secretary of State for Business, Lord Mandelson, to urge him to travel to Denmark to meet Vestas Chief Executive Officer Ditley Engel to emphasise the British Government’s commitment to renewable, green energy sources and point out the advantages of maintaining a production centre on the Island. Mr Turner is also pressing the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) asking what steps it is taking to prevent the closure of the cutting-edge factory in Newport, which makes wind turbine blades. It is due to close in two months

He agreed to step up the pressure on Friday after meeting a delegation from the Isle of Wight County Association of Trade Union Councils, which represents 8,000 workers across the Island. Mr Turner said the Government appeared to 'approve' of Vesta's closure because it has not intervened as it had, for instance, with the car manufacturer, Vauxhall. Mr Turner has already discussed the issues with the Minister for Energy & Climate Change, Mike O’Brien, and Jonathan Shaw, the Minister for the South East, but decided to escalate his concerns to Lord Mandelson after hearing that local organisations who opposed the factory closure had not been included in meetings about the future of Vestas on the Island.

Derek Osbourn, who led the delegation, said Mr Turner was the first person or organisation in authority to listen to their fears about job losses at Vestas and the future of other manufacturing jobs on the Island.

END Contact : Andrew Turner’s office 01983 530808