Peugeot Closes Ryton

[Lex]

Just heard on the news that Peugeot is closing its Ryton plant down & laying 2,000 workers off. Some of the interviewees said that they'll really struggle to get new jobs.

[Leofric]

Originally Posted by Lex

Just heard on the news that Peugeot is closing its Ryton plant down & laying 2,000 workers off. Some of the interviewees said that they'll really struggle to get new jobs.

Oddly, Coventry City council seem rather relaxed. Then again, in the 1970s Coventry lost 40,000 jobs in the space of months.

This is, of course, what you get when you don't own your car industry. Any problems at head office, and the overseas plants are the first to go.

It's incredible to hear that there is not going to be any significant "ripple" effect with local suppliers - apparently, all the parts were shipped in from France.

Bad news for the workers, but in a way, Coventry's been moving away from motor assembly for years... 18% of the workforce of Coventry in manufacturing now, whereas a few years ago it was 55% - and unemployment in Coventry is low for a large city, and Warwickshire's unemployment is low.

Back in the 1970s/1980s the area's economy was based almost solely on the car industry/manufacturing - very little diversity meant that three companies shedding thousands of jobs was devastating.

[Lex]

It's a shame really; the Midlands has a great industrial heritage, but that's the way the world is nowadays. We've adapted well to the changing times though - I know Sheffield quite well; apart from Meadowhall Shopping (hell!) Centre, it has the feeling of a city that's never got over the collapse of heavy industry.

[Leofric]

Originally Posted by Lex

It's a shame really; the Midlands has a great industrial heritage, but that's the way the world is nowadays. We've adapted well to the changing times though - I know Sheffield quite well; apart from Meadowhall Shopping (hell!) Centre, it has the feeling of a city that's never got over the collapse of heavy industry.

Coventry has a history of adapting... Weaving, Watchmaking, clothmaking, cars, bikes, motocyles, aircraft... The problem with Coventry in the 1980s was that four large firms employed so many people that when they all made redundancies it had a terrible effect on the local economy... It seems much more mixed now, with people in finance, IT, telecoms, etc, etc. There's still a storng motor industry presence - TATA at Warwick Uni, and Jaguar's design centre plus people like Alpine.

I lived in Sheffield for three years, before moving to Coventry!

[Lex]

Sheffield has its nice bits like the southern bit, near the Derbyshire Dales (the area where Last of the Summer Wine is Filmed), but a lot of the city is either concrete or derelict. Much better to be in Warwickshire!

[Leofric]

Originally Posted by Lex

Sheffield has its nice bits like the southern bit, near the Derbyshire Dales (the area where Last of the Summer Wine is Filmed), but a lot of the city is either concrete or derelict. Much better to be in Warwickshire!

Actually, Last of the Summer wine is filmed outside Huddersfield, in Holmfirth, and around there.

What WAS filmed in the Peak district south of Sheffield is the classic Italian/Spanish horror movie "The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue". It was shot in Hathersage.

Yes, parts of Sheffield are great, especially the South. Much of the city - like ANY other city - is vast housing estates with very little character. I lived near Endcliffe Park.

[Lex]

I thought Holmfirth was in the Derbyshire Dales! Shows what I know!

[Lex]

Peugeot now have the cheek to launch their new model here.