YEOVIL NEWS: Kit and skills are already here so keep the work here says Yeovil MP

YEOVIL MP Marcus Fysh has urged the Ministry of Defence to keep helicopter engineering equipment based in the town.

Mr Fysh, speaking on Thursday (November 17, 2016) before it was announced that the GKN factory in Yeovil would close next year, said it was imperative that the MoD exerted pressure to ensure that the tooling set-up used by GKN remained in the town and that work stayed local.

“I’ve written to the Minister seeking clarification as to the ownership rights to the plant there at GKN,” he said.

“If, as I understand, the Ministry of Defence does own it then it absolutely must insist that the work is not allowed to be moved from where it is.

“Essentially, the kit and the skills are already in Yeovil and that’s where they should stay, as I am working with other firms to see whether there is a future for the GKN site and its employment under different scenarios and ownership structures.”

Mr Fysh said RNAS Yeovilton had just been designated as one of two specialist national centres for helicopter operations under the Government’s review of the Defence Estate.

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