Pfizer 30 Day Report

A taskforce, set up in the wake of Pfizer's announcement that it is closing its site in Sandwich, has published its first report.

The Sandwich Economic Development Task Force has been looking at how the site could be best used in the future to save jobs and boost business in the area.

Among its recommendations is a plan to turn Sandwich and other parts of Thanet into a Government enterprise zone, which would offer incentives and tax breaks to new and existing businesses.

It also suggests improving transport links to the area, including the creation of a new Manston Parkway station along the route of the High Speed rail service into London.

The report, presented to MPs and Ministers in Westminster, has revealed that Pfizer is in talks to with ten other companies about possibly taking over the site and keeping jobs there.

It is just over a month since US drugs giant Pfizer announced it was pulling out of the centre in Sandwich as part of a reorganisation of its research and development across the world.

The move has put 2,400 jobs at risk, although the company says it hopes some staff can be transferred to other sites or companies linked to Pfizer.

The company has been associated with Sandwich for 60 years, and the site has played a major role in drug discovery and development.