THERE was more gloom at Meltham Mills with the shock announcement that many more jobs were to be lost at Case Tractors, formerly David Browns.

Another 300 redundancies were announced on top of 350 jobs lost only months earlier.

Colne Valley MP Mr Richard Wainwright described the losses as a serious blow, but said he was impressed by the positive and almost aggressive attitude of the Meltham Mills management to ensure the operation there had a future.

He said Department of Industry officials had recently been to Meltham. “The impression I get is that the Government is watching this situation very closely and is anxious to see Britain become the centre of the European tractor industry. But all this is talk – I’m anxious to see some reality.”

Case managing director Mr Peter Mills said it was tragic that after two years’s successful progress there had been two major redundancy announcements in such a short time.

But he said he believed Case’s Meltham plant could have an important role to play. “Everybody at all levels had worked so well to improve quality and design and, in the process, substantial reductions had also been achieved in cost.

“Even in the last few weeks we have made further progress and are making sure these improvements are understood by our parent company, Tenneco, by the UK Government and by Local politicians. We will continue to put out case, but even more strongly.”

A press conference had been called in Birmingham when Case (European sales) vice-president Mr John S Gleason was expected to reveal more about what was to happen to Case/International Harvester. Tenneco had until the end of the month to decide whether to take up an option to buy IH engine and cab making plants in West Germany and France.

Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman said he would be writing to Prime Minister Mrs Thatcher about the crisis and job sharing affecting both Case and David Brown Gears.

“I shall stress that we must have a budget for real jobs or the decline in manufacturing jobs in this town will continue,” he added.

Meanwhile Mr Sheerman was championing building a Disneyland-style park in the grounds of a local hospital as part of a plan to develop tourism in West Yorkshire.

“I have always thought there is room for a theme park in our area, and the 400-care grounds of Storthes Hall Hospital would be ideal when it closes,” he said. “The huge site could be used for a Disneyland-type park or perhaps something with a Robin Hood theme, as he has links with this part of the world.

“The M62 would give easy access to such a park, which would also provide much-needed jobs and money for Huddersfield.”

Mr Sheerman was one of the many local MPs, district councils and other groups consulted on the Tourism in West Yorkshire – Developing the Potential document produced by West Yorkshire Council the previous year. He also suggested giving annual prizes for the best West Yorkshire-based TV comedy or drama.

“TV shows like Last of the Summer Wine have dome wonders already to promote tourism in this area,” he said. “We should be doing all we can to encourage similar shows which will stimulate interest.”

County council tourist officers were investigating Mr Sheerman’s suggestions.

But there was a down side to the tourist boom in the area. Extra traffic and thieves following the day trippers to the land of Summer Wine were causing big headaches for local police.

Police were dealing with reports of property stolen from cars parked at local beauty spots such as Digley Reservoir, and urged people to act to prevent more.Police in Holmfirth were planning a crime prevention campaign aimed at local people and tourists. A anti-crime caravan was to tour the area and similar campaigns were to be staged in the Colne Valley and the Kirkburton and Denby Dale areas.

Households in Meltham had written to the Department of the Environment in a bid to stop a clubhouse development by the local football club. The club had been given the go-ahead to build a clubhouse and two pitches on land off Red Lane.