More jobs to be made at Tesco?

Published on 5th July 2007 in News

More jobs could be available at the forthcoming Tesco distribution centre in Goole following news this week that the supermarket chain will close key parts of its Fenny Lock distribution centre in Milton Keynes.

It has been announced that the automated goods handling section and part of the depot at the distribution centre in Milton Keynes distribution centre will close by the end of September, affecting around one-third of the 1,558 staff at the warehouse, which has been in operation since 1998.

Tesco has stated that it expects there to be 75 voluntary redundancies from the warehouse operation, as well as 45 from the driving population and another six from elsewhere in the distribution centre.

Staff have been told by management at Tesco that the decision will save money and give the business greater flexibility.

Capacity will now be shifted to the £65 million regional distribution centre in Goole, being built next to Junction 36 of the M62 and due to open later this year.

Commenting on this week's announcement David Nieberg, spokesperson for Tesco, said: "At Tesco, we have to regularly review our distribution network to ensure we can deliver the very best service to both stores and customers.

"Consequently, we no longer plan to operate the automated picking operation in Fenny Lock. Subject to consultation with trade unions, the trunking operation will close by the end of September, 2007.

"We will support all affected staff through the difficult period ahead and will do as much as possible to find them an alternative role in Tesco."

Mr Nieberg added that, as a result, more jobs at Goole's forthcoming Tesco distribution centre could be created and told the Goole Times that an announcement could be made over coming weeks.

Goole Town Mayor Cllr Jean Kitchen said this week: "We welcome more jobs to the area, and I just hope that any extra jobs will go to people in the local area.

"There are people living in Goole who have to travel out of the area for work, so this may change that."

Details of the proposed straw-fuelled generating plant which will power the Tesco distribution centre at Goole were given to a meeting of the Town Council on Monday.

Mike Bullard, consulting group director in Renewable Energy for Enviros, outlined the planned biomass energy system for the new Tesco distribution centre at Junction 36. He explained that Tesco would be producing its own electricity and heating with the biomass energy system, as well as cancelling the depot's energy footprint, linking in with regional and national targets.

Mr Bullard said: "Tesco is keen to cut its carbon footprint as quickly as possible. This is a voluntary activity and any renewable energy system has a zero carbon footprint associated with it. This is clean biomass, coming straight from the field."

He also pointed out that biomass would produce alternative markets for farm based commodities.

Thirty-five thousand tonnes of straw would be purchased from within a 25-mile radius each year. Ten to 12 new jobs would also be created at the power plant for maintenance work and in the control room. Mr Bullard said that less than one per cent of the lorries going in and out of the depot would be for the power plant: "The depot is right next to the motorway and the lorries coming in and out in relation to the rest of the depot is a very small number."

Cllr Malcolm Boatman said: "The more companies like this, the better it is for all of us. I would like to support this, I have no objections to it at all."

Cllr Mike Harrison added: 'A company like Tesco investing into an environmentally friendly thing like this should be welcomed."

The councillors agreed to back the plans.