DEAR EDITOR -- As an employee of United Engineering Forgings Automotive in Bromsgrove, I would like to express my dismay upon reading the comments of Councillor Nick Psirides quoted in the Advertiser/Messenger earlier this month.

I would be most grateful if he could tell my colleagues and myself, what he knows of the "plans already made at UEF", as he is obviously party to information not available to us.

Despite minimal communication from the administrators, we were all aware that negotiations between KPMG and Stokes Forgings were at an advanced stage, and if the stated intention of the administrator, to sell the company as a going concern, is in fact true, it is difficult to understand that a proposed reduction of £200,000 a year, in business rates would have no effect on the outcome.

Perhaps Cllr Psirides is aware of some alternative agenda.

Bromsgrove District Council have already granted outline planning permission for housing on 15 acres of the current site and the possibility of a similar fate for the remaining 35 acres is a major concern to us all.

Perhaps, to ensure that "Garringtons" continues to provide a valuable manufacturing base and a significant source of employment for the town of Bromsgrove, Cllr Psirides might like to make a statement regarding the Bromsgrove District Council's likely response to any further planning applications regarding "change of use" for the remainder of the site and thereby perhaps encourage negotiation of a sale as an ongoing business, rather than a potential building site.

The alternative would appear to be that Bromsgrove loses the many benefits of a traditional manufacturer and employer; and that 500 people lose their jobs, after already losing a large part of their pension due to the company entering administration.

Dismayed,

(Name and address withheld).