MORE than 50 workers face redundancy following the announcement to cut manufacturing at a Purbeck windows plant.

Coastal Windows, on the Holton Heath Trading Park, will transfer production of PVC windows and doors to its parent company site at the A&B Glass Company in Sudbury, Suffolk.

Meanwhile, the 76,000sq ft plant at Holton Heath will continue to develop and expand its range of aluminium products.

One employee, who didn’t want to be named, said 56 workers would lose their jobs tomorrow.

The factory worker, who has worked for the company for more than a decade, said: “We were told at the end of April that this could happen.

“The feeling on site is understandably bad as some people have worked here for more than 20 years.

“We are getting redundancy pay.

“Coastal Windows was a fabulous company to work for and I’ve enjoyed all my years of working there.

“I’m sad to be leaving Coastal Windows, but I’m not sad to be leaving A&B, who bought us up two and a half years ago.”

Coastal Windows, established in Poole in 1971, is highly regarded in the industry.

Managing director Dave Locke said: “We regret we have to announce the proposed cutbacks.

“It is not a decision that has been taken lightly, but we operate in a highly competitive market and it is necessary to fully utilise our other plants so that we continue to compete effectively.

“Sadly there will evidently be some job losses, mainly in the production area.

“We are, however, expecting to create new jobs going forward as our aluminium production continues to expand.”

The Coastal brand name will continue to trade from the premises, with sales and administrative staff unlikely to be affected.