CRUNCH talks to save 650 jobs at closure-threatened Golden Wonder have been a farce, it was claimed this week.

Union leaders and MPs lashed out at company directors for falsely raising hopes that the crisp factory could be saved - when, they believe, its fate was already sealed.

A consortium of union leaders, MPs, Halton Council and Business Link have had three meetings with directors to try and put a rescue package together.

Halton MP Derek Twigg said he was "very disappointed" to discover this week that Golden Wonder had already negotiated transferring Widnes contracts with Asda and Somerfield to their other sites.

He said: "It is disgraceful that this information wasn't available. I am really annoyed. I only found out on Friday that the Asda contract recently tendered for was based on work to be carried out in Scunthorpe and Corby."

Mr Twigg was preparing to meet Clive Sharpe, chief executive of Golden Wonder, at the House of Commons on Tuesday evening.

"This is a last ditch attempt. The signs are it is going to close. I am very pessimistic."

His fears were shared this week by union leaders.

Clive Rimmer, Transport & General Workers Union branch official, said:"It just makes the whole thing a charade.

"We are all disgusted. They have treated us with utter contempt."

Unions suggested building a brand new factory, funded with European cash, to save the Widnes jobs.

"We would have got it with European funding but they refused this offer, saying they have already got a new building in Scunthorpe," said Mr Rimmer.

He claims bosses deliberately ran down the Widnes factory.

"Without any shadow of doubt, they have planned this closure for years," he said.

"What really sticks in our throat is, having announced they have signed a deal with Asda to transfer our work, they have started asking our people to produce Asda crisps.

"People are in tears on the line. It is horrendous.

"There is no hope. People are going to lose their houses. We've got whole families here, grandmothers and grand-daughters, husbands and wives."

He said workers have also been warned that if they find a job and leave before April 16, they will forfeit their redundancy pay.

A mass union meeting is being held today (Wednesday) at 2pm.

Unions are now pressing for the best possible redundancy settlements.

"Our intention now is to look for enhanced severance claims so that everyone goes with what they deserve. The average length of service here is 15 years. Some have worked for 35 years.

"I think if we had been given honest truth and all the facts from day one, we wouldn't have had any optimism. But they deceived us."

Unions are now calling on a national boycott of Golden Wonder product.

IN AN exclusive interview, Malcolm Wardle, manufacturing director of Golden Wonder, this week categorically denied that the company had already decided to close its Widnes factory.

He said: "It has not been a fait accompli.'

"We have been having talks with unions, the MP and local councils to appraise them of our financial situation. It is very, very serious."

He said accountants were this week evaluating the rescue package proposed by unions.

"We have looked at all suggestions. They would have to be pretty radical. I must stress that it is a very, very serious situation."

Mr Wardle said he warned the workforce of the falling decline in business back in 1997.

"It was so serious, two-a-half years ago, I saw everyone on site personally, and told them the site was losing £2.5 million a year. Since then, the overall decline in profit of the crisp market and the high production costs of Widnes have made it worse.

"Everyone on the site is clearly aware of how serious the situation is. We have been very honest with our staff."

He denied that the company had already signed deals with Asda and Somerfield to transfer Widnes orders to other sites.

But, he conceded, that customers had been reassured production would move if the Ditton plant closed.

"What actually happened, in the tender procedure, when you go forward with a customer, you allow them to look at all the facilities at your disposal.

"We have said to people at Asda, should the proposal go ahead, yes, we will have to move production from this site to our other facilities."

Mr Wardle said that every effort had been made to make the Widnes factory viable.

He added: "We have spent twice as much here, £12 million over six years, to improve the profitability of this site.

"We understand the significance of closure on this community and families. We are very aware of the stress but it is one we have to seriously consider because of viability.

"We are not shutting the door but time is running out."

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