The owners of Oxiris Ltd have announced this week that the Common Lane factory will shut down – ending some 70 years as a major employer in the area.

As the Express revealed in March, the owners – German-based Arques Industries AG – entered into a consultation period to discuss the future of the site because of increased competition with Asia.

Steve Huckerby, regional organiser with the GMB union, said: “We are still carrying on talks with the company. We don’t think it should be closing down. But quite clearly the company has listened to our arguments and made its decision to move forward on it.

“It’s disappointing but I think people are resigned to the fact that it’s closing down now.”

Employees have been told to expect their notices this week informing them that their work will finish in mid to end July.

About five or six workers will stay on to oversee the decommission and clean-up of the plant.

The Express understands the owners intend to then sell the land.

Mr Huckerby said: “They have found they can get the raw material which Knottingley produces, called cresol, from India and China.

“The company is in the same place as a lot of other manufacturers. It just can’t compete with abroad, where there are low wage level economies. The goverment needs to be prepared to provide some protection for British manufacturing industries.”

The factory has provided jobs for at least 70 years through its various owners which included Midland Yorkshire Tar, Croda, Shell, Inspec and Degussa.

Knottingley Coun Graham Stokes, worked at the site for 28 years when it was Midland Yorkshire Tar. He said: “It’s disappointing. It’s been a long-standing industry in Knottingley and is a major blow to the people of Knottingley and Ferrybridge who were employed there.”