FRY CLUB FUTURE 'IS SAFE'
12:41 - 05 October 2007
Cadbury directors have promised that the Fry Club and sports pitches will be kept on the Somerdale site at Keynsham.It was announced on Wednesday that the chocolate factory will close by 2010, with the loss of 500 jobs.
There were fears that the social club and sports pitches would be sold to developers as part of the 230-acre site.
But Cadbury has now pledged that the social club and pitches will be retained on the site in some capacity.
Cadbury spokesman Tony Bilsborough said it was too soon to say whether the existing club would be retained or rebuilt.
People who have booked wedding receptions or other social functions at the Fry Club have been told they do not need to worry.
Local MP Dan Norris has held meetings with senior Cadbury directors this week, both before and after the firm's announcement on Wednesday.
Among the many concerns to which Mr Norris drew the directors' attention was the future of the social club and its sports facilities.
He said: "Cadbury's Keynsham site is so much more than just a workplace - it is a key part of Keynsham's way of life, partly because of the excellent social and sporting facilities.
"As locals know so well, the Fry Club is a vital social and leisure hub to Keynsham and the surrounding area.
"That is one reason that news of Somerdale's closure comes as such a disappointing and heavy blow, not just to hard-working staff, but to our community as a whole.
"Directors of the company have now assured me, following my requests at emergency talks this week, that they will secure the long-term future of the Fry Club and its football pitches.
"I've had pledges that the club and all the sports pitches will be retained.
"This could either be a new Fry club or retention of the existing building but I don't think Cadbury will want to tie its hands on specific details before it submits any planning application for the site.
"While nothing can soften the huge blow of the 500 job losses that are planned by 2010, news that these additional facilities will continue to be available to our community will be of some comfort at this very challenging and sad time for local people.
"I will now be pressing Cadbury for more information and details of how exactly they will honour this promise to Keynsham to keep the Fry Club open for future generations."
Mr Bilsborough confirmed that the company would honour its commitment to the Fry Club and sports facilities.
He said: "There are a lot of sports pitches at the Somerdale site. Cadbury said some time ago that they would be redeveloped in some way but I can confirm that the company has made a commitment to the Fry Club and improving sports facilities.
"It won't look exactly as it does now but there will be a social club and sports pitches on the Somerdale site.
"It is too early for us to say whether a new club will be built or whether the existing building will be kept.
"We said last year that we would develop some of the sports pitches but improve the sports facilities and that will still be the same position for us in the future."
Roy Broom, vice chairman of the Fry Club, said the news was reassuring as people who had booked the club for functions were concerned after Wednesday's announcement.
He said: "Cadbury owns the Fry Club building but it has been run as a separate business for the past 25 years.
"I want to assure people that we are still in business and all the wedding receptions and Christmas parties that have been booked are not at risk."
