A dairy firm is making four people redundant when its Canvey depot closes next month, it has just emerged.

On April 27, Arla Foods is to pull out of its base in Trevia Avenue, Canvey, and will merge its operation with its Grays depot.

The company released an official statement saying: "All existing dairy roundsmen will be transferring to Grays.

"Customer supply will be unaffected and local households will continue to enjoy the high levels of service they are accustomed to.

"As part of the rationalisation, and following a full employee consultation process, four employees at the Canvey depot will be made redundant."

Rumours circulated that some customers might only receive three deliveries a week as a result of the closure.

But area manager Brian Murfield said: "As far as we are concerned, the deliveries will not change."

He said the roundsmen were self-employed and any changes they made were arranged between themselves and the customers.

Mr Murfield added that the four redundant posts were those of a cashier and three supervisors. He said they were offered other jobs within the company, but chose redundancy instead.

Published Monday, March 18, 2002