Plaxton job losses: Petition calls for the coach industry to receive Government bailout - you can sign it here

The parent company of coachbuilder Plaxton has announced up to 650 jobs could go across the UK.

It is not yet clear how many employees at Plaxton's Eastfield factory, which employs 750 workers, will be affected by restructuring plans.

A petition demanding the Government provides a cash bailout to the coach sector is rapidly gathering signatures.

It is entitled 'A government cash bailout for the coach industry before it's too late'.

It states: "We keep tens of thousands of people in jobs in our sector and hundreds of thousands of people in other industries.

"Some companies are already having coaches repossessed! Without us our country wouldn’t be able to operate the same.

"Most companies have had no income since March and may not till next year."

At 10,000 signatures the Government will respond to it. If it reaches 100,000 it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

You can sign the petition HERE.

As well as its Scarborough plant, Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) - the UK’s largest bus and coach manufacturer which goes under the brands of Alexander Dennis and Plaxton - has a production site in Falkirk where it employs 850 people and in Guildford where there are 350 workers.

Another 350 people work at smaller after-market sites or remotely.

Scarborough’s MP Robert Goodwill says the news is “worrying” and is one of a cross-party group of MPs who have written to the Prime Minister to demand the £3 billion he committed in February to fund investment for “at least 4000 new zero emission buses” is brought forward in the hope of saving jobs.

Union Unite has said it is working with the firm to minimise redundancies.

Plaxton redundancies: Scarborough Council calls on the government to help safeguard jobs

The union is also calling on the Government to bring forward its new green buses plans.

A spokesperson for the firm said: “The jobs at risk are across all functions at all of our UK facilities.

“Unfortunately we are unable to give any additional details ahead of the formal consultation, which is expected to begin in the coming weeks.”

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