WATCHET’S doomed Wansbrough Paper Mill would need an investment of at least £20 million to modernise its ageing plant, it was revealed this week.

As reported in last week’s Free Press, all 176 workers at the site – one of the biggest employers in West Somerset - could lose their jobs by Christmas after owners D S Smith announced that it was proposing closure following a review of the long-term economic outlook.

West Somerset’s MP Ian Liddell-Grainger revealed the level of investment needed after meeting mill managers, along with West Somerset Council leader Cllr Anthony Trollope-Bellew on Tuesday.

And Mr Liddell-Grainger warned that, realistically, there was no chance that the company would reverse its decision to close the loss-making plant given the size of the investment necessary to re-equip it and comply with stringent new pollution controls.

Formal consultations over redundancies are due to start next week but with no prospective buyer in sight it seems inevitable that more than 250 years of paper production on the site will end.

However, both Mr Liddell-Grainger and the district council have pledged to do all they can to secure the best possible deal for the employees.

D S Smith told the MP and council leader that staff would be entitled to enhanced redundancy terms, would be given help with retraining and where possible would be offered alternative jobs at the company’s other sites.

“Securing the best possible outcome for the workforce has to be where we direct all our energies at the moment,” said Mr Liddell-Grainger.

“We may not be able to influence the future of the mill but we can make a difference to the future of the staff.

“The district council and I will be having further meetings with DS Smith and will be meeting Watchet Town Council and we have both offered to help in whatever way we can to mitigate the impact of the closure.

“There is no doubt that it is going to be a very sad day for Watchet when the mill closes.

“Our responsibility is to do our best to make sure the workforce is looked after and that the local community is helped to respond to the inevitable negative effect this will have on the town’s economy.”

The district council is currently working closely with a range of partners and the Department of Work and Pensions to help the mill’s workforce.