WARRINGTON MPs David Mowat and Helen Jones say “constructive” and “productive” talks have taken place with the management team at Fiddlers Ferry Power station following concerns over hundreds of job losses in April and the future viability of the loss making power plant.
David Mowat
Mr Mowat met the management team today (Monday) alongside fellow MPs Helen Jones (Warrington North) and Derek Twigg (Halton).
Mr Mowat said: “Along with Derek Twigg MP and Helen Jones MP, I had a constructive meeting with Fiddlers Ferry Management Team. I also spoke to the Secretary of State for Energy, Amber Rudd.
“Although the power station is currently heavily loss-making, keeping it open may well continue to be necessary to keep the lights on.
“I personally feel that a decision to close would be premature and I will be making the case to Government and to SSE that we need to find a way of keeping it open, at least in the short to medium term.”
Helen Jones
Helen Jones added: “The meeting was very productive and we are now seeking a further meeting with the Energy Secretary Amber Rudd to explore what can be done to save the jobs that are under threat at the plant.”
SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy) has been consulting on proposals to shut down three of the four units on site by April – a move that the Unite union says would cost around 270 jobs, alonside the loss
of hundreds more sub-contracting jobs.
SSE stated last month that its decision was due to “continuing challenging economic and environmental conditions for coal”.
Last December Fiddlers Ferry failed to secure a contract to provide electricity in 2019/20 in the recent capacity market auction. Three of its four units did win a contract with the National Grid to provide back-up power for next winter.
