Battle of the dale that has turned full circle

In sparsely-populated Weardale, in the far west of County Durham, people have been fighting for economic survival for as long as they can remember.

Today, a new blow hits the resourceful, hard-working and stubbornly proud community when 147 jobs are lost at one of its major employers, Lafarge-UK's Blue Circle Cement Works, at Eastgate.

The day has been set in stone since the end of January when the 37-year-old plant's French owners dealt its workforce the "kick in the teeth" they had dreaded through four years of living under continuous review.

Desperate to save their jobs, they pushed up productivity and cut costs to the bone - only to find that in some far off boardroom, where the bottom line on a balance sheet carries more weight than sentiment, the figures added up to closure for Eastgate.

Profitable and renowned for quality, the plant was simply in the wrong place.

The closure blow will shatter the dale where contractors, shops, hoteliers and dozens of small traders have depended on the works for their living since the first brick was laid back in the booming 1960s.

So far, more than 45 skilled workers have opted to transfer to other Lafarge plants at Dunbar, in Scotland, and in Derbyshire, and there are fears that young couples and their children will leave in droves.

Other families are hanging on to see whether a task force set up in the wake of the closure announcement can fill the void.

It cannot have been much different in Weardale before the plant opened. Then, fearing the same economic decline as is anticipated today, a group of far-sighted councillors and officials set up a development committee to look at ways of creating new jobs.

Now nearly 90, Wilf Hume, the then clerk of Weardale Rural District Council, still remembers every detail of the drive to attract a major national employer.

They succeeded through using the dale's own strengths to win their argument. Recognising the potential of the clay, shale and limestone hidden under its hills, they approached cement manufacturers including Associated Portland Cement with their plan.

They were proposing an environmental nightmare, violating unspoilt farmland with a dirty, noisy and unsightly factory, and if they expected opposition they were not disappointed. Early support from local planners evaporated with a switch in officers at Durham County Council, and it was to take a deputation to the Department of the Environment in London for consent to be given for Weardale to get its works.

From the day building started on the banks of the River Wear in December 1963, the cement business proved a goldmine for its employees.

For the first time, Weardale men enjoyed the big wages paid out to tradesmen on a major construction site.

They put up the factory and its 403ft high chimney in just 18 months and the first of its two 200ft-long kilns, the largest in Britain, was lit on June 19, 1965.

A year later, on June 14, there was an official opening by Bishop Auckland MP Jim Boyden, then Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works.

Weardale's 40 acres had a potential output of 600,000 tonnes of cement a year, servicing a growing demand in the North-East which had until then been met by the industry's heartland of the Thames Estuary.

It employed 400 people, including 300 directly in manufacturing and up to 60 lorry drivers.

Because 120 workers lived within three miles of Eastgate, the council built 30 houses for them at Stanhope.

More than 1,000 trees were planted to help the plant blend in with the Weardale countryside and the dale's population learned to live just with its industrial interloper.

Blue Circle, as APC became, spent millions of pounds on dust control. Its social club became a popular Saturday night venue and there were family parties, coach trips, leek shows, and football, cricket and bowls matches.

But over the past few years, increasing productivity and record profitability failed to save the plant. Contractors took on the work of permanent staff and Eastgate was left out of a country-wide revamp of Blue Circle sites.

Billy Wilthew, who as GMB union shop steward battled in vain to save the plant where he had worked for 37 years, is gutted by the closure.

He said: "I don't think it will sink in for people until it happens. A lot of people have been there since the start and it is like losing your family.

"It has been a brilliant atmosphere. Everybody has looked out for each other all the way through."

While Billy accepts redundancy, his son, Robert, has taken the difficult decision to accept a job with the company at another plant.

Billy said: "It has been terrible for families like ours. We have lost hours of sleep over it, deciding what to do for the best.

"We didn't agree with the decision but we couldn't get it changed and it hasn't left us bitter. We have worked for a good firm and they will be hard to replace."

Mr Hume said: "Cement has been a Godsend to Weardale. It has enriched so many families.

"But we were originally given an assurance that working would continue for 60 years. Now it is ending after 37 years and I feel let down."

How the fight fior doomed plant unfolded

December 9, 2001

Blue Circle announces £3.1bn takeover by French building materials company Lafarge.

January 24, 2002

Weardale reels from closure announcement, blamed on surplus production in cement industry.

January 29

Mystery consortium puts together takeover bid, but fails to win a meeting with Lafarge bosses.

February 4

Workers learn their plant is the most productive in the country.

February 8

Company accused of rubbing salt into staff wounds by taking down Blue Circle signs and replacing with Lafarge.

February 11

A second rescue bid refused, this time from mystery European manufacturer.

February 22

Delegation hopeful after talks with PM Tony Blair.

March 12

Trade secretary Patricia Hewitt backs company's case for closure.

March 13

Workers shun job offers to stay and fight.

March 16

Staff furious at company share offer.

March 26

Campaigners concede defeat as closure date set.

April 16

Protest bus leaves Weardale for Lafarge HQ in Paris.

May 22

Fears of dale exodus after Lafarge confirms 40 workers are moving.

July 1

Task Force member Kingsley Smith reveals ski slope plans for site.

July 6

The TV character Mr Bean, played by actor Rowan Atkinson, tipped to be used to lead Dale's revival, says task force report.

July 30

The task force adopts new report put together by Wear Valley District Council.

August 7

Workers go out in style with "Christmas" party.

August 9

Kilns switched off. Clinker production ends.