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Worker in court over Crumlin fire

A factory worker has appeared in court accused of arson at the Real Crisps factory in Crumlin

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Crumlin factory fire: worker's court appearance over arson charge

A factory worker has appeared in court accused of arson at a crisp factory.

Colin Goulding, 30, is accused of burning down the Real Crisps plant where he worked at Crumlin in Gwent.

Goulding, of Bridge Street, Abertillery, is charged with arson with intent to endanger life in the fire at the factory where 115 people worked.

He appeared at Newport Crown Court via video link. The case was adjourned ahead of a plea hearing on November 23. Goulding was remanded in custody.

Real Crisps can only guarantee salaries until the end of October

Staff have agreed to be flexible anda small number will be able to travel to our plant in Northern Ireland, wherewe also hand fry crisps. Others may be deployed to Corby, but obviouslythat cannot be anything but a very short-term solution.

Unfortunately it looks like redundancies will be inevitable. Many of them are very skilled andwe shall be working hard to make sure we don’t lose that expertise, but clearlywe will not be able to transfer 115 people around the country.

Only weeks ago we were looking for staff at the plant to do extra hours, now we are looking at job losses. It’s hard to believe so much can change in such a short time, but we are in discussions with the Welsh Government about what can be done and we shall make sure that the Real brand will continue.

– Paul Allen. Real Crisps CEO

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Crisp factory confirms redundancies will be inevitable after fire

A meeting was held this afternoon with staff at which it was confirmed that all staff would be paid in full until the end of October. Credit: ITV News Wales

Real Crisps have confirmed that redundancies will be inevitable after a fire tore through the factory in Crumlin last week.

A meeting was held this afternoon with staff at which it wasconfirmed that all staff would be paid in full until the end of October.

Crumlin Factory Blaze: Man charged

A 30-year-old man from Abertillery has been charged with arson with intent to endanger life following a fire at an industrial estate near Crumlin.

He has been remanded in custody to appear at Caerphilly Magistrates Court tomorrow morning.

Crumlin factory blaze: arrest made

Police investigating a fire on an industrial estate near Crumlin have arrested a 30-year-old man from the Abertillery area on suspicion of arson.

The fire ripped through the site, which is where the 'Real Crisps' brand is based, at 3.18am this morning.

More than a hundred staff who work at the site are said to be concerned over the future of their jobs.

Investigations are ongoing.

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"We need to sort out our staff and their futures"

A spokesperson for a crisp production factory devastated by fire this morning says a meeting will be held with over 100 employees to discuss their futures.

The Real Crisps brand is owned by Northern Ireland company Tayto.

Bob Hartley, Group Operations Director for Tayto, said the company would look to move production to its other sites while all options are explored.

"To see the factory in flames was devastating"

Employees at the Real Crisps factory say they're not sure what the future holds for them following the fire that broke out there in the early hours of this morning.

One worker Simon Poulten told ITV Wales he was 'devastated' at the damage to the site at the Pen-y-fan Industrial Estate, Croespenmaen.

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