ELLESMERE Port MP Justin Madders has expressed his concern following the announcement that the town's Vauxhall plant will not be reopening until after September 1.

Mr Madders says it is now "essential" that the Government comes up with a support package for the car industry in order to encourage demand for new vehicles.

Vauxhall's parent company Groupe PSA confirmed yesterday (June 10) that its factory in Ellesmere Port will not restart production until after September 1.

The carmaker also announced that some North Road site workers – reported to be 250 – will be temporarily redeployed to the Luton plant on a voluntary basis due to "significant demand" for light commercial vehicle production.

It says the move will protect jobs at Ellesmere Port where more than 1,000 people are employed.

The plant temporarily closed back in March due to the coronavirus outbreak with workers placed on furlough.

Vauxhall confirms its Ellesmere Port plant will not restart production until after September 1

Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, said today: "Obviously it is a concern that the expected reopening of the plant has now been put back to September, but there clearly needs to be demand in the new car market for the plant to move back into production.

"As we move out of the lockdown there are going to be measures needed to support different sectors of the economy as they will recover at different rates.

"The new car market is one of those where, understandably, people may be reluctant to make these significant purchases until we have defeated the virus.

"It is therefore essential that Government come up with a package of support for the UK car industry moving forward to encourage purchases.

"We need a 2020 version of the car scrappage scheme that the Labour Government introduced after the 2008 banking crash."

In a statement released yesterday, Vauxhall's parent company Groupe PSA said: "Since the start of the Covid-19 health crisis, Groupe PSA's priority has been to protect the health of its employees and ensure the sustainability of the company.

"Manufacturing activity at Groupe PSA’s Luton site commenced on 18th May after the deployment of a protocol of reinforced health measures.

"The success of the Vauxhall and Opel Vivaro, Peugeot Expert and Citroën Dispatch produced there now requires a third shift to increase output at the site.

"Representatives of Vauxhall Motors met with Trade Union representatives of the Vauxhall National Joint Negotiating Committee today in order to set out plans to redeploy labour from Ellesmere Port to Luton Plant on a voluntary basis for a temporary period.

"The Company proposal will protect employment and support the ability to respond to significant demand for LCV production with highly trained and skilled workers for the Ellesmere Port site, while demand for Astra is building sufficiently."