COUNCILLORS received an update on a Chepstow firm which is set to move out of the town after job losses were announced last month.

Mabey Bridge announced they were closing their Station Road site and looking to sell their Newhouse site in Mathern last month, at the potential loss of hundreds of jobs. All operations will transfer to their third base in Lydney.

Consultations with staff at the sites will end on Saturday.

In December, a spokesman for Mabey Bridge confirmed that 150 jobs at the firm's site on Station Road in Chepstow had entered a consultation period and were at risk.

He added that the renewables site at Newhouse site, where 180 people are employed, was being put up for sale as a going concern. The firm said it aimed to sell the site to "someone who can accomodate those jobs."

There are 140 jobs currently at the company's Lydney site.

Cllr Bob Greenland told councillors at a meeting last week that the first he had heard of the job losses was on the television news when they were announced on December 11.

The next day Cllr Greenland and the council’s chief officer for enterprise Kellie Beirne met Mabey Bridge managers and had “very open and frank discussions when they outlined the problems that were encountering.”

He praised the firm for the impact they have had in Chepstow: “Mabey Bridge has been entwined with the history of Chepstow for many years. It is known locally as a good employer. It has a good relationship with staff.”

“We have a very small economic development team – but we will be doing all we can to ensure people without jobs get jobs. But that is going to be a tough ask.”

He also told Mabey Bridge was looking for employees to take “enhanced redundancy packages” to reduce the number of compulsory redundancies. But he said all orders will be completed before the Station Road is closed down.

Mathern county councillor Graham Down said he was “surprised by the timing” coming only weeks before Christmas, but said “in retrospect I can see why it was made at the time. Our thoughts are with those who are facing a period of redundancy.”

While another Chepstow county councillor, David Dovey, said the company had been part of the town and will be missed, particularly for its role in building the first Severn Bridge.

A spokesman for Mabey Bridge said after last week's council meeting he was unable to provide any further information.