Michelin job losses blow for Ballymena economy

The shockwave of Michelin’s decision to close its Ballymena plant will be felt throughout the town’s commercial centre, according to a body representing local retailers.

The tyre manufacturer said on Tuesday its factory, one of the area’s main employers, would shut in 2018 with the loss of 860 jobs.

It follows news from Banbridge that 80 jobs are in jeopardy after one of the town’s leading retailers, Frank McPolin, revealed his Supervalu businesses was now in administration.

The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) said the combination of bad news meant it was a “dark day” for Northern Ireland’s economy.

Michelin’s announcement comes within a year of tobacco manufacturer JTI’s devastating decision to move its production from the North Antrim town to Eastern Europe with the loss of 877 jobs.

Those positions are expected to be wound-up before the end of 2017.

NIIRTA chief executive Glyn Roberts said the combined loss of over 1700 jobs over the next two years would be felt by local traders in Ballymena and surrounding towns.

DUP enterprise minister Jonathan Bell described the announcement as “devastating” for workers, their families, and the local community.

“The loss of 860 jobs is a huge blow for Ballymena and north Antrim and is bad news for the Northern Ireland economy as a whole,” he said. “This decision is hugely regrettable and I know the company will not have taken it lightly.”

The Alliance party’s East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson said the decision was a setback to both workers and the wider economy.

“This is an incredibly concerning move and I am worried about the impact it will have, not only in the local area, but throughout Northern Ireland,” he said. “Many people from my own constituency of East Antrim work at the plant and will be affected personally.

“The knock-on effects and message it sends out will be devastating. It is a further example of the impact of the global economic situation can have locally.”