Council Leader responds to news of Bridgend Ford engine plant closure

Councillor Jones said:

“The Ford plant has been one of the cornerstones of the South Wales economy for some 40 years and a significant proportion of the workforce are residents of this County Borough. We estimate some 20% of the staff – second only to Bridgend itself, so the impact will be keenly felt in the area.

I also underline the Council’s commitment to working with the Welsh Government, Bridgend Council and other partners to ensure that employment and other support services are put in place to mitigate against the impact of the closure as quickly as possible and to the maximum extent possible. In addition, the Council will also be working closely with businesses in the supply chain to assist them as best we can – not only in relation to Ford; but also in response to other recent announcements in the sector such as the closure of the Honda plant in Swindon.”

Dywedodd y Cynghorydd Jones:

“Mae gwaith Ford wedi bod yn un o gonglfeini economi De Cymru ers rhyw 40 mlynedd, ac mae cyfran sylweddol o’r gweithlu yn byw yn y Fwrdeistref Sirol hon. Rydym ni’n amcangyfrif bod hynny’n rhyw 20% o’r staff – y nifer mwyaf ar ôl Pen-y-bont ei hun, felly bydd yr effaith i’w theimlo’n fawr yn yr ardal.

Rwyf hefyd am danlinellu ymrwymiad y Cyngor i weithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru, Cyngor Pen-y-bont a phartneriaid eraill i sicrhau bod cyflogaeth a gwasanaethau cymorth eraill yn cael eu darparu i liniaru effaith y cau hwn cyn gynted â phosib, a chymaint â phosib. Ar ben hynny, bydd y Cyngor yn cydweithio’n agos â busnesau yn y gadwyn gyflenwi i’w cynorthwyo orau gallwn ni – nid yn unig yng nghyswllt Ford; ond hefyd mewn ymateb i gyhoeddiadau eraill diweddar yn y sector, fel cau gwaith Honda yn Swindon.”