Aluminium plant looks doomed as rescue deal rejected

BELEAGUERED Holyhead smelting plant Anglesey Aluminium looks set to close in September, despite offers of the ?48m rescue package. The potential lifesaving deal of ?1m a month for four years, devised by governments in Cardiff and Westminster, was rejected as not being generous enough. Last night Managing Director David Bloor dealt the final blow to the plant’s 540 employees in dismissing the lifeline, greenlighted by Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, announcing only 80 of which woul dbe keep on after close down. Worker’s Union Unite said the news was hugely disappointing for everyone involved. Unite organiser Graham Rogers said: “The Government has done everything asked of them. “I can’t understand why any company would turn down an offer like this.” An Assembly spokesman added: “We are working very hard to help the company to maintain smelting operations on the island.” source:www.walesonline.co.uk