AM backs bid to save threatened factory.

Byline: STEVE BAGNALL

A REGIONAL Assembly Member has promised management and workers at the under threat Air Products factory at Acrefair he will be doing everything within his power to safeguard the plant.

Welsh Conservative AM , Mark Isherwood, accompanied by the party's parliamentary candidate for Clwyd South, John Bell, attended a meeting at the Wrexham plant to discuss what can be done to rescue it from closure.

The company which is based in Pennsylvania, USA, has tabled its strategic proposal having reviewed capacity, order books and cost pressures.

It concluded there is only demand for one facility in the short to medium term, meaning closing its plant at Acrefair and maintaining its Chinese plant, but also developing a low cost manufacturing facility elsewhere.

Mr Isherwood and Mr Bell spoke with Laurence O'Donnell, general manager at the plant, and David Toby, plant controller, as well as staff and trade union representatives.

They were told union and staff teams are developing a counter proposal in the belief that capacity will be higher than the company has identified, that different roles for staff can be looked at and that staffing costs can be reviewed in the context of productivity and work practices.

Mr Isherwood has given his backing to the counter proposal.