Thurrock: Oil Refinery Workers Protest

11 June 2012, 09:36 | Updated: 11 June 2012, 10:28

Around 100 workers at Coryton Oil Refinery are protesting today (Monday June 11th) against the closure of the site.

They are calling for the Government to step in and help after the Thurrock-based plant went into administration earlier this year.

Around 850 jobs are at risk after attempts to find a buyer by administrators PWC failed.

Protesters are in Corringham town centre this morning.

Richard Howitt, who is the MEP for Essex, has been involved in the campaign to save the site. He's been telling Heart: "It's everyone's job that's at stake if nearly a thousand workers and theirfamilies lose their livelihoods, in an area where businesses have beensuffering more than most.

"The Government accepts that the Thames Gateway is nationally important foreconomic regeneration, so must not stand by while one of its most importantbusinesses in one of the most crucial areas goes under.

"Government representatives repeatedly told us that best efforts were beingmade to find a new buyer, but today's protest shows that today no-onebelieves they were telling the truth."