Beatson Clark: Plant Closure In Prospect

Plans by UK container glass manufacturer Beatson Clark to close its plant at Barnsley, northern England, and move all business to a facility in neighboring Rotherham could lead to the loss the 130 jobs. A 90-day consultation period has been launched at the Barnsley plant. Managers were told in meetings at the two plants that high energy costs and stronger competition lay behind the move. Beatson Clark has been making bottles in Barnsley since 1930. In the 1960s and 1970s more than 500 worked at the plant. By year 2000 the number had shrunk to about 200.