The Government has once again been urged to step in and provide cash to secure the future of Northumberland's gigafactory.
There has been considerable concern over the future of Britishvolt's electric vehicle battery plant at Cambois for several weeks, with reports earlier this month that the company was on the verge of going into administration.
Its short term future was secured by a funding injection - believed to be from existing investor Glencore - but collapse has only been staved off for a few weeks, with financial advisors to the company given weeks to find a buyer for the site.
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Business Secretary Grant Shapps has insisted that Government money pledged to the scheme is still on the table, but that Britishvolt can’t access it until milestones are agreed.
Britishvolt was pledged £100m following a high profile event on the site earlier this year, but the company’s request to draw down £30m of the £100m Automotive Transformation Fund cash was recently refused. Mr Shapps said that Britishvolt’s access to the cash is contingent on the company meeting certain criteria.
Earlier this week, documents filed at Companies House showed receivers were appointed to Power by Britishvolt Properties Limited, a subsidiary of the main company.
At Wednesday's meeting of Northumberland County Council's Ashington and Blyth Local Area Committee, North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll said he had been in discussions with Government to try and secure immediate funding, but had been unsuccessful.
Mr Driscoll said: "It is a private company and there is nothing I can do. I have spoken to the Government about it, but it is one of the few times I have been unsuccessful getting money out of the Government."
Coun Alex Wallace, who represents the Sleekburn ward that contains Cambois, reiterated his call for the Government to step in and support the factory.
He said: "I know people are getting nowhere up to now but don't let go. It is vital, not just for the Sleekburn ward, not just for Cambois, but for the North East of England.
"It is a golden opportunity. £30m for four thousand jobs is nothing, they would make it back in tax because these will be well-paying jobs."
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