A COMPANY has declined to clear the air over rumours of job losses.

No-one at Polestar Broadley in Clayton-le-Moors would comment this week on widespread stories of planned redundancies.

However, a spokesman for the Graphic, Paper and Media Union said it was involved in negotiations with the company. He said: "Talks are at a delicate stage but we are hopeful of a positive conclusion.''

Some rumours suggested a link with the controversial Whinney Hill Tip expansion plan which has angered residents in Accrington, Clayton and Huncoat.

It is thought management could be worried by a business consortium's plans to use nearby Henry Street as a new access route for the dumping of around 660,000 tonnes of refuse a year at the tip.

Councillor Tim O'Kane, who is involved in a campaign of opposition to the increased tipping at the site, said: "Rumours of the redundancies led some residents to jump to the conclusion that Polestar Broadley might be pulling out altogether, although the two developments may not necessarily be connected at all.'' However, he did understand that Polestar wanted to shed 32 jobs.

The company, which is involved in producing labels for a number of well-known food and drinks products, said yesterday that it had no comment to make on the situation.

  • Residents worried about plans to extend the use of the Whinney Hill tip are calling for a new link to the site from the M65 motorway.

Councillor Miles Parkinson, who chaired a protesters meeting on Wednesday night said: "We are taking a very positive attitude towards this application.

"We are saying that an access to the site from the M65 is necessary, not just for the benefit of ourselves, It will also be needed to enable people to get to the Huncoat Power Station site, where there are long-term plans to create an important employment zone in the future."

Around 80 people who attended the meeting at the Hare and Hounds pub, Clayton, have set up an action committee which is to be known as REACH, (Residents of Altham, Clayton and Huncoat.)