Church Stretton’s largest single employer is moving almost half its workforce seven miles down the road to Craven Arms.
The Journal can reveal that medical and scientific equipment manufacturers Polymer is quitting some of its units on the Mynd Industrial Estate, Church Stretton, and moving to the former Nightingales premises at Long Lane, Craven Arms.
Adrian Williams, operations director for Polymer at Church Stretton, said, when questioned about the move rumour: “Yes it is correct. We are re-locating from Church Stretton to Craven Arms.
“We have set up a first class manufacturing line at Craven Arms.
“Some 35 to 40 per cent of our workforce will be in Craven Arms, with the move completed by the end of May. We have to do this stage by stage.”
Polymer will still keeps its Essex Road base in Church Stretton, and a small number of industrial estate units in the town.
Mr Williams said the new Craven Arms industrial estate premises would give more space for production.
He said Polymer’s parent company Varian was so pleased with operations in south Shropshire that it had switched manufacture of certain products from the USA to the district. He added it was all positive news for Polymer.
But plans for job expansion at Craven Arms have been put on hold in the current economic climate, and it will be existing jobs that move out from Church Stretton.
Asked whether staff were happy with the move, Mr Williams said: “Some people who live further away are not pleased about it, but there are some who live in Craven Arms who will find it much easier.”
Bob Welch, Mayor of Church Stretton, said: “Varian Inc (formerly Polymer) did advise the town council of their plans some weeks ago, not only transferring staff to Craven Arms but ceasing to use up to six of the units on the Mynd Industrial Estate.
“That is why I have been so actively and unavailingly lobbying for Royal Mail to retain their delivery office on the estate because it was an attraction to mail order firms.
“Since the Royal Mail closure announcement, I have been advised of at least one such firm which has pulled out of moving to the estate and I anticipate there will be others.”
He blamed high rental costs at the Mynd Industrial Estate for the problems.
“Given the pressure on our local retailers at present, the last thing we need in Church Stretton is for our only industrial estate to be half empty on a long term basis, when we are crying out for more employment opportunities, especially for our young people.”
