Ventcroft Ltd, Runcorn, signs compulsory purchase order agreement with Halton Borough Council

May 28 2009 by Oliver Clay, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

A RUNCORN firm forced to relocate for the planned Mersey Gateway bridge has finally signed an agreement with Halton Borough Council that could enable it to stay in Runcorn.

Ventcroft Ltd, based on Astmoor Industrial Estate, has been involved in a compulsory purchase order (CPO) row with Halton Borough Council for more than a year.

Ventcroft staff feared the firm would have to move to North Wales, should no agreement be reached. It would have resulted in the loss of 48 current jobs and up to 200 future jobs in Halton.

Due to the firm’s complicated equipment, staff estimated that a move could take up to two years and said the uncertainty of a move hindered expansion and fresh business deals.

The agreement was reached shortly after staff wrote to Richard Branson, Tony Benn, the producers of TV programme Dragon’s Den and Theo Pathitis, none of whom responded to the call for support.

Ventcroft had been scheduled to testify at the bridge project second inquiry but this has been cancelled due to the agreement reached.

Frank Rotherham, Ventcroft owner, said: “We’re very pleased that an agreement has been reached.

“We wish it had happened a little bit earlier because the timescale for a move is still very tight, but we can do it.

“The staff are more comfortable now as we all are. We can start to look at locations in Runcorn and Widnes also, including the old Bayer site, but we’re looking to find somewhere in the Runcorn area.

“We’re hoping to move things quickly but there will be some delay because of the inquiry.”