ASSURANCES have been given about the future of a major electronics factory, Wrexham’s MP has claimed.

Fears had grown in the Wrexham area concerning the Sharp factory in Llay after staff reported being sent home early and laid off.

But community leaders said they have received assurances the business is not under threat and said the staff affected are temporary agency workers and not employed staff.

Wrexham MP Ian Lucas said: “I have spoken to the company and they have confirmed it is only temporary staff who are leaving.

“The market in solar is very depressed at this present time and there has been uncertainty about the feeding tariff.

“My information is there is no long-term threat to the plant itself but the problem is the market has shrunk.

“I will be monitoring the situation and am concerned at people from this area not being in employment as a result.”

Llay councillor Malcolm Taylor said he had also spoken to the company and received assurances that agency staff only were affected.

He said: “I have been assured there is no threat in any way about the future of the Sharp factory.

“I have every sympathy with anyone affected by this and I hope things improve.”

Fellow Llay councillor Terry Boland said: “This is a very important business to the Llay community.

“I believe it is just agency staff who have lost their jobs but I will be keeping an eye on this situation.”

Last year it was reported about 500 jobs had been lost at Sharp during the year.
The company blamed the massive reduction in staffing levels on market fluctuations.

Sharp’s corporation share price in Tokyo plummeted by 13 per cent on Friday, with the company having announced it had lost about £1.12 billion in the April to June quarter.

No-one at the company was available for comment.