UK seafood firm Young’s Seafood has announced it is shedding 70 jobs at its subsidiary The Cromer Crab Company.

In October, Young’s announced plans to close the site entirely, putting 230 jobs at risk but relented after public outcry and a high-profile campaign, opting instead for consultation.

As a result, Young’s has decided it cannot support current staff levels at the site and has issued notice to the employees. The staff will have phased leaving dates from January, depending on skills and declining volume requirements.

Pete Ward, chief operating officer of Young’s Seafood, said: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly and we recognise the importance of handling this process carefully and sensitively with our team members.

“I’d like to stress that this development does not, in any way, reflect on our skilled and committed team in Cromer who have always been fantastic and who continue to work hard during what is, understandably, an unsettling time. This is about ensuring that, in the tough new economic reality we all face, our business is sustainable for the long-term.”

However, the Unite union branded the redundancies “disgraceful” and said they will have an “immense” effect on the local economy.

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Unite regional officer Ivan Crane said: “Just weeks away from Christmas, these letters sent out to staff telling them that they will shortly be made redundant is nothing short of disgraceful. Our members are infuriated that even before the consultation period had finished, management have decided what will happen.

“We believe the company has an obligation to this town and that the Cromer Crab Company should remain in Cromer.”

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