More than 600 green workers face the possibility of losing their jobs following the announcement Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas is in consultations with UK staff.

The workers are all employed at the blade manufacturing factory on the Isle of Wight.

Robin Oakley, head of Greenpeace’s energy campaign, said: “These people could lose their jobs because the government has failed to remove the obstacles blocking faster wind farm development. This lack of support is now all too apparent as hundreds of British workers face redundancy.

“The news that the UK renewables industry is struggling has been well known for months. But instead of dealing with this quickly, the government did too little, too late.

“Hopefully, Vestas will be able to delay any final decision about lay-offs until measures announced in the budget take effect and the UK Renewable Energy Strategy, due from Ed Miliband’s department in the summer, is published.”

A spokesman for Vestas said: “At the Isle of Wight, Vestas will initiate consultations with the employees to discuss the future of the factory.

“Investments in the development centre at the Isle of Wight will continue. The British Government’s commitment of 21 April regarding massive investments in wind power and higher tariffs will have a positive influence on Vestas’ possibilities of producing blades in Great Britain.

“If the expected lay-offs are carried out, Vestas will still have substantial excess capacity in Northern Europe compared with the current, local market prospects for the coming years.”

Luke Walsh

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