GLAXO is planning to “gift” Ulverston some land for a new industrial park following its recent jobs bombshell, a meeting has heard.

South Lakeland District Council leader Cllr Giles Archibald said the company is planning to offer up a site in the town after announcing in October that 191 jobs would go from the Ulverston plant which turned 70 this year.

In October, GSK announced the workforce would be cut to 156 after deciding that its sterile injectibles division would shut after a decline in sales.

Cllr Archibald (Lib Kendal Town) said he was not at liberty to go into further detail at this stage but called the idea a “generous gift of land” to form a new industrial or enterprise park.

He said: “GSK is committed to a job creation programme and is committed to helping employees affected to find new work. GSK will be making funding available for these projects. It is committed to an apprentice programme within the community and has agreed to maintain that programme at a similar level to now. GSK has also re-confirmed its commitment to support a new Ulverston leisure centre to the tune of £2 million towards its costs.”

Cllr Archibald said he had held meetings with factory management locally and in London.

Cllr Archibald said SLDC had expressed its concerns about employees affected by the redundancy programme.

“I have pressed the importance of their situation, their financial situation and the need for retraining opportunities, and have said it is a priority concern for us that the employees, and their welfare, is taken into consideration,” he said.

GSK was approached for a comment but had not responded at the time of going to press.