THE chief executive of Swindon Chamber of Commerce says the 330 job losses at Swindon Pressings are not the catastrophe they at first seem.

Although expressing sympathy with those affected, Dennis Grant pointed out that the 1,500 remaining staff had a far more secure future.

As reported in yesterday's Evening Advertiser, Swindon Pressings managing director Bob Bolam said the job losses were necessary because the firm's contracts with Land Rover and MG Rover were coming to an end.

Both firms are bringing out new models, making the panels produced at Swindon obsolete.

That means 250 shop floor staff and about 80 non-manual and managerial personnel face either voluntary redundancy, early retirement or a move to work at Cowley, the Oxfordshire Mini plant which, like Swindon Pressings, is owned by BMW.

But Mr Grant says the future is looking economically viable for the remaining Swindon staff as sales of the Mini, for which Swindon Pressings make panels, continue to boom worldwide.

Mr Grant said: "The situation is not what it appears to be it is not as bad as it looks.

"No loss of jobs can ever be described as good news, but if you take a look at the reasons for the losses, it is good news for the people remaining.

"BMW has made a conscious decision to look at the work done at its Cowley and BMW plants in the context of demand for the Mini, which is exceeding all expectations and should become better still when the cabriolet version is released in spring.

"Also, the people who are leaving are leaving on a relatively high note.

"Some will move to work at Cowley, some will take voluntary redundancy, some early retirement and some will not have short term contracts renewed."

Mr Grant said this meant it was not a case of people simply being given a month's salary and told to leave.

The two main trade unions representing the staff also suggested the job losses would put Swindon Pressings on a more secure footing, working more for BMW and moving away from outside contracts such as those with MG Rover and Land Rover.

Jim D'Avila, spokesman for the Amicus union, which generally represents skilled and non-manual staff, pointed out that any redundancies would be voluntary ones. He said: "What has happened is no surprise to the unions or the workforce.

"We have known for months that the price of remaining a part of BMW and not being sold off was going to be some job losses as they move away from outside contracts and concentrate on the BMW work."

Terry Woodhouse of the TGU, which represents shop floor and other general staff, said: "Swindon Pressings' immediate future is safeguarded with BMW, but none of that helps those who are going to be redundant."

Both men said their unions would do all they could, including advising on retraining, to ensure the futures of those leaving Swindon Pressings.

North Swindon Labour MP Michael Wills, in whose constituency the factory lies, said he was concerned to hear of the job losses, and pledged to do all he could for any constituent who needed advice.

He also stressed his belief that the local economy was fundamentally robust.

Barrie Hudson