News that Vestas have applied for planning permission to open a wind turbine plant in Kent was met with shock by former employees on the Isle of Wight today.
The company say 2,000 jobs will be created if the wind turbine manufacturing and installation facility in Sheerness goes ahead.
Former Vestas worker, John Ward, told VB, “I am stunned that they could not come back to the Island and try to save face and inject a well-needed boost to our economy having made such a huge hole in it in 2009. Many of us are still looking for work.”
Islanders still suffering after 2009 job losses
Over 400 jobs were lost back in 2009 when the company closed their manufacturing plants in Newport on the Island and Southampton.
The occupation of the factory for 21 days by several members of staff resulted in international news coverage.
Many of those have since left the Island in search of skilled work, sadly for others despite re-training, they’ve been unable to gain work since the closure.
Vestas offshore president Anders Søe-Jensen told the Guardian that the Vestas “would only make a final investment if the government can offer market and regulatory certainty from a transparent, long-term and stable policy framework, and investment support to reduce the risk and cost of building such a large facility.”
