Latest news with #BenGoldsborough
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Calls for 'written commitment' over Lotus's Norfolk factory
A council leader has called for "a written commitment" over the future of the Lotus car factory and warned the area could not "afford to lose" suggested the company's owners, China-based Geely, were considering shutting the company's site at Hethel in Norfolk, where 1,300 people work.A statement from Lotus said the company had "no plans to close the factory" and following a meeting with Geely, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said he "was reassured".Conservative county council leader Kay Mason Billig said reassurances were "good news" but she still feared jobs were under threat. She echoed the concerns of South Norfolk's Labour MP Ben Goldsborough, who called for "openness" after talking to Geely representatives last the meeting, the Department for Business and Trade said Reynolds had "set out the government's commitment to working with Lotus and the wider car sector to improve competitiveness and drive growth". Along with South Norfolk District Council and the Norfolk Business Board, Mason Billig signed a letter asking Reynolds "to do what you can to obtain a written commitment from Geely to protect Lotus in the UK"."Lotus is a large employer and it's one of the bedrocks of Norfolk," she told the BBC."Everybody looks at Lotus and thinks 'Norfolk'. We can't afford to lose a factory of that size in this county."The letter also questioned the government's recently announced Modern Industrial Chancellor Rachel Reeves has called it a "10-year plan to deliver the certainty and stability businesses need to invest in the high growth sectors that will drive our growth mission". But the letter warned it was "predominantly focused on city regions, the North and the Midlands".It said whilst Norfolk had strengths in areas including the clean energy, agricultural technology and financial services sectors it was "overlooked", with much of the funding for the east aimed at Cambridge. Nova Fairbank, chief executive of the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, said: "Cambridge has been so successful that people don't tend to look away from Cambridge."We have many high growth sectors and as a business community we stand ready to support economic growth and jobs in this region," she said its position had not changed and insisted there "are no plans to close the factory" in Hethel.A spokesman for the government said its Industrial Strategy "has introduced ambitious plans to drive growth and investment in every region of the UK, including Norfolk".They added: "The strategy builds on Norfolk and the East of England's strengths and will be developed further by upcoming plans for the Life Sciences, Defence and Financial Services sectors which will support Norwich's thriving and historic insurance industry." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
South Norfolk MP asks Lotus to give clarity to 1,300 workers
An MP has called for the owners of car company Lotus to "step up to the mark" and make the future of its factory clear to its 1,300 emerged on Friday that China-based Geely was considering closing the company's Hethel site, amid uncertainty created in the industry by US President Donald Trump's tariffs.A statement from Lotus Cars on Saturday insisted it had "no plans to close any factory", but added that it was "actively exploring strategic options to enhance efficiency and ensure global competitiveness".South Norfolk MP Ben Goldsborough was part of a meeting with Geely representatives on Monday and said he emphasised the need for "openness". Goldsborough told the BBC: "Geely [has] made the statement that the site will remain in operation."But there is a big difference between 'remain in operation' and at what capacity."So today's conversation was all about how we secure capacity and as many, if not all, of the 1,300 jobs there."The Labour MP, who was elected last summer, said he could not share full details due to the commercially sensitive nature of the discussions with the continued: "What I want them to do is to have the openness to say what their plans are going forward."It needs to be looking at the commercial aspect of it, the long-term sustainability of the site as well because, as I keep saying, the models that are produced there, the talent that the 1,300 workers have, is second to none."If you lose it, you lose it forever, and that's where Geely need to step up to the mark now."Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds met with Geely on Sunday and said he "was reassured" that the firm has "no plans to close their Hethel plant". Lotus was founded in the early 1950s by engineer Colin Chapman and moved to its Norfolk base at Hethel in the which also owns Volvo, took majority control in 2017 when purchasing a 49.9% stake in previous parent company has overseen the brand's continued transition towards electric and hybrid vehicles, with the Emira launched in 2021 as its last conventional petrol the company announced plans in April to cut 270 jobs in the UK, which followed the loss of 94 jobs last said: "We've seen the ups and downs of Lotus time and time again."Every time it sees challenge and adversity it finds new ways of reinventing itself and that's what we've got to do now. "We've got to give it that springboard to reinvent itself long-term." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
ITV News
29-06-2025
- Automotive
- ITV News
Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds MP, meets Lotus after reports of plans to shut Norfolk factory
The Business Secretary is holding talks with Lotus after the sportscar maker appeared to shelve it's plans to shut UK operations. After reports that Chinese owner Geely was planning to stop manufacturing at the Hethel plant in Norfolk, putting 1,300 jobs at risk, Lotus issued a statement saying it had 'no plans' to close the factory. Jonathan Reynolds MP is speaking to the company on Sunday, alongside local MP, Ben Goldsborough. The British sportscar brand has been majority-owned by Chinese multinational Geely since 2017. The Financial Times had reported it was considering shutting up shop in the UK and in favour of a new plant in the US. On Saturday, Lotus sought to assuage concerns with a statement that it remains 'committed' to the UK, which it called its largest commercial market in Europe and the 'heart' of the brand. 'Lotus Cars is continuing normal operations, and there are no plans to close the factory,' it said. 'We are actively exploring strategic options to enhance efficiency and ensure global competitiveness in the evolving market. 'We have invested significantly in R&D and operations in the UK, over the past six years. Lotus remains committed to the UK, and its customers, employees, dealers, suppliers, as well as its proud British heritage.'
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
South Norfolk MP warns against 'carpeting' area with solar farms
An MP who said Norfolk could be "the Texas of green energy" said he was "shocked" at proposals for another large solar farm in his firm Aukera has revealed plans for the Tasway Energy Park, near Long Stratton, which it said could provide power for up to 200,000 homes."If you carpet the entire southern half of south Norfolk, that's unfair on residents," argued Labour's Ben a website detailing its proposals, Aukera said it "wishes to engage with the community and residents early to begin to enhance opportunities the project could bring". Pending planning permission, it hoped to begin building in five years' its flat terrain and available land, Norfolk is seen as an ideal place for solar farms and a number of the largest in the UK have been proposed for the government has said such schemes are necessary to reduce energy bills, cut carbon emissions and provide better energy critics have warned against the loss of agricultural land and the impact on the look of the major energy projects are planned for south Norfolk, including the 2,700 acre East Pye solar farm, another solar site at Gissing and a large battery energy storage site at Rushall. There are also plans for a 114 mile-long (184km) stretch of pylons which would run through the Long Stratton area between Norwich and Tilbury, Essex. Goldsborough, who has backed the East Pye development, said news of the 700 MW Tasway project was "shocking".He has previously compared the potential benefits of green energy in south Norfolk to the boom Texas underwent after oil was discovered there, but warned too many projects were now being proposed for his constituency:"I want to see Norfolk being at the forefront of offshore wind, onshore wind in some areas, and solar... but that needs to be spread out across the whole county, and that, as it stands, isn't happening."The MP said he only found out about Tasway when a resident contacted him, but he would be meeting with the company. On its website Aukera, which has been asked for further comment, said no final design had been it said its "proposal includes solar panels across parts of the site, with a battery energy storage system to store and release electricity when it's most needed".The government, which wants 95% of energy generated in the UK by 2030 to be "clean", will have final say on the project. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Call for end to '19th century infrastructure' at Norfolk railway station
A frustrated MP has called for an end to "19th century infrastructure" at a Norfolk railway station where disabled passengers are not able to get to one of the platforms. South Norfolk MP Ben Goldsborough is pressing for a government debate on railway accessibility, spurred by the situation at Wymondham station. Campaigners want step-free access at Wymondham Railway Station (Image: Wymondham Access Group (WAG)) The southbound platform - platform two - can only be reached via a narrow Victorian footbridge, with no step free access. It means passengers with mobility issues have to catch a train north to Norwich, where there is access, so they can take a train to travel southwards. The government said last year the station would get a share of £350m through its Access for All railway upgrade scheme but it has yet to be finalised. Labour MP Mr Goldsborough raised the issue in Parliament on Thursday, when he pushed ministers on the matter. Ben Goldsborough (Image: Labour Party) Mr Goldsborough said: "The wonderful Wymondham train station in my constituency will mark its 180th birthday in July, which is great news, but we cannot bring out the cake just yet because it is not fully accessible. The centre platform cannot be reached by all. "May I call for a debate in government time on how we can get Access for All funding for all the stations up and down the country that desperately need it?" READ MORE: Campaign for future of Norfolk and Suffolk railway stations Lucy Powell, leader of the House of Commons, replied: "It is raised with me regularly at these sessions, and I know ministers will come to this House and update us shortly on the review of the Access for All funding. "I encourage him and others to apply for a debate because I think it would be very popular indeed." Mr Goldsborough, who previously joined campaigners for a meeting with the transport secretary about the issue, said: "There would be no better birthday present for Wymondham station than to finally make it fully accessible. "It's 2025 and disabled passengers should not still be facing 19th century infrastructure."
