UP TO 30 members of staff are facing an uncertain future after they were placed on “short-term layoff” following the closure of six branches of Wexford Farmers’ Co-op, including the one on the Old Dublin Road in Enniscorthy.

The announcement came on Tuesday evening and saw the immediate closure of six of the seven branches, including the local branch which was the first one to be opened in the county.

Speaking to the media about the situation, Chief Executive Officer for WFC, Mr. Frank Devoy said that it was the “saddest and toughest” day he had ever spent in the company.

In regards to the 30 staff members, he said that they had been placed on “short-term layoff, pending sales of branches”, adding that there may be “significant” redundancies in the coming months.

Mr. Devoy said that the possibility of selling the closed branches would be discussed in the coming weeks and months and he expressed his hope that the people employed in these branches would get jobs with whoever took them over.

He added that the steps being taken by the organisation would “bring liquidity back into the society.”

After initially denying that anything was wrong, it later emerged that in order to combat liquidity problems, the Board made the decision to close all but one of the branches in Wexford, with Bunclody remaining open in order to trade out the remaining stock supplies.

It is understood that ongoing operations at Enniscorthy Mart would not be affected and that it will continue to trade as normal, as will the company’s property and oil divisions.

[Full story in this week's Echo]