The closure of Coryton oil refinery will have a devastating economic impact warned Britain's largest union, Unite, as it accused the administrators PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) of leading the workforce up the garden path and the government of betraying them.

The accusation came as news emerged that the Coryton refinery would be sold and converted into an import terminal for fuel, leading to the loss of over 800 jobs. The union has repeatedly called on the coalition ministers to follow the lead of the French government which intervened with state aid to keep the Petroplus refinery in France going.

-- Advertisement --

Commenting, Linda McCulloch, national officer for Unite, said: "Coryton workers will feel led up the garden path by the administrators and betrayed by the government that has done nothing to save the plant.

"This will have a devastating impact on the community, draining over £100 million out of the regional and national economy and severely undermine the UK’s refining capability.

"We will do everything in our power to achieve justice for our members at Coryton, who have worked tirelessly to try to save one of the most efficient refineries in Europe."

(CD/GK)