We have no intention of moving, says Maryport factory boss

Last updated at 11:55, Friday, 18 January 2013

The boss of one of Maryport’s largest employers said the company had no intention of ditching the town to move to bigger premises.

Sean Parnaby

Sean Parnaby, managing director of West Port, spoke out after news this week that developers, working with Allerdale planners, have identified Lillyhall as an ideal site for a new factory.

But Mr Parnaby said that he was in the middle of negotiating an extension on the lease of the current factory on Solway Industrial Estate and would continue to look for land to build a bigger factory in the town.

Mr Parnaby has warned that Allerdale is pushing West Port towards moving to Lillyhall because of its policy to have all manufacturing based in the area.

“It seems that the development policy for Allerdale is to have all manufacturing based in Lillyhall without a clear plan on how to develop areas such as Maryport,” said Mr Parnaby.

“Whilst Allerdale are keen to support housing development in Maryport, they do not have a plan to redevelop the industry estates allowing companies to invest in Maryport.

“Without a forward plan for Maryport industrial estates they will become derelict and nobody will want to invest here.” Mr Parnaby said.

He said the company had been working with Allerdale for two years trying to agree on a suitable site for a new factory.

“The council is pointing us in the direction of Lillyhall but this creates many more problems than staying in Maryport,” he added.

“This is where we want to stay and where I will be fighting to stay.”

Allerdale’s head of development services, Kevin Kerrigan, said: “The council and its partners will continue to work with West Port to secure the long-term future of the business in Allerdale.”

First published at 11:48, Friday, 18 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk