GAZETTE & HERALD: WESTINGHOUSE Brakes has admitted it expects an exodus of disgruntled workers when it relocates to its new state of the art factory at Melksham in 2005.

Last year, the engineering firm's shock decision to quit Chippenham, where it has been based for nearly a century, sparked unease among the 330-strong workforce, half of whom live in the town.

At a meeting to unveil plans for the company's new factory, managing director Paul Johnson said he anticipated some workers would be unhappy with the move, but insisted the decision to quit Chippenham would safeguard the future of the company and its jobs.

"I was not surprised some of the workers were upset. There have been three generations of staff that have walked or cycled to work," he said.

"We are trying to help employees with travelling but it is more difficult for some than others.

"We would be absolutely delighted if every employee chose to join us but it is a fact of life some employees may choose not to.

"There are some employees in Melksham who think it is an absolutely wonderful move, although there was a Swindon employee who was particularly disgruntled."

Workers, however, claim more than a dozen employees, frustrated with the company's management, have already handed in their notice and more are set to follow as the moving date looms.

Mike Thatcher, of Ashfield Road, in Chippenham, has worked at the firm for 44 years.

He said morale among the workforce is now at an all-time low.

"The mood is complete apathy and no-one really cares anymore," he said.

"Everyone's just laughing at the

situation, but at the end of the day it is not very funny. I just feel we have been kept in the dark about everything and I am not the only one."

Mr Thatcher, who said he will leave when the firm leaves Chippenham, claimed the company is attempting to downsize the workforce, despite reassurances there will be no redundancies.

He said: "I'm sure they are looking to reduce the number of workers by up to a hundred.

"From what I can gather the new place will not be large enough to

accommodate the entire workforce

because it's too small.

"I think they are trying to upset

people so they leave and they won't have to fire anyone. In some ways I shall be very upset to leave, but as it stands now I will be glad to get out and that's the general feeling among older people here."

In recent years Westinghouse has

diversified away from its traditional field of heavy engineering into new hi-tech mechatronic systems, including platform doors.

It also decided to quit its base at Chippenham's Langley Park and swap its old pre-war factory for a new building designed to cater for its changing markets.

Westinghouse Brakes claims it was not able to find a suitable site in Chippenham so it began to look at

alternatives in Melksham and

Swindon.

It said it decided to opt for the Melksham site at Bowerhill Industrial

Estate because a move there was likely to cause less disruption.

The new complex will cost £7 million with a further £3 million earmarked for investment in specialist machinery.

The factory will have a special comfort cooling system, which will maintain the ideal working temperature for workers.

There will also be plenty of room for future expansion on the site.