TRANSPORT company Wincanton is to close its last depot in the town from which it takes its name, it has been claimed.

The firm is set to shut the site, at Hawker’s Bridge, Southgate Road, according to the Unite union.

The premises is the main base of Wincanton’s dairy haulage business, which is set to be absorbed by food giant, Müller, when a contract expires this month.

In 2019, the firm signed the deal with Müller to collect more than 700 million litres of milk each year from more than 450 farms across the south of England and Wales.

The dairy firm has confirmed its contract with a ‘third party’ in the south west will expire this month – believed to be the Wincanton Plc agreement – with collections to be carried out by its ‘own logistics team’.

A spokesperson for Müller Milk & Ingredients said: “To ensure that we maintain industry leading service levels to our customers and dairy farmers, more than 90% of Müller Milk & Ingredients’ logistics requirement is provided through our own network, with the remainder outsourced to trusted third party providers.

“One of these third party contracts for farm collection services in the south west of England will expire this month and, from October 2023, these collections will now be carried out by Müller’s own logistics team.

“We will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to achieve a seamless transition over the coming weeks.”

The Unite union said a number of staff in Wincanton are being ‘TUPE’ – Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) – transferred to new roles with Müller, with others understood to be being moved within the Wincanton company, and some made redundant.

“Unite has bene actively involved in supporting our members who are being TUPE transferred from Wincanton to Müller, which will result in the closure of the existing Wincanton depot,” a spokesperson said.

The Wincanton depot, at Hawkers Bridge

“Unite’s focus has been on supporting our members.

“For those considering transferring an extended acclimatisation period is on offer as well as travel allowances.

“For those not wishing to transfer a generous redundancy package has been negotiated.”

The reported closure would signal an end to the firm’s links with the town, which stretch back almost 100 years.

It was founded as Wincanton Transport & Engineering Ltd in the Somerset town in 1925, as a subsidiary of the West Surrey Central Dairy Company.

Wincanton Plc now employs around 20,000 people across the UK and Ireland, generating revenue of around £1.5 billion a year, providing logistics for brands such as Howdens, Screwfix and Ikea.

Now headquartered in Chippenham, Wiltshire, the firm has major bases across the country including in Gloucester, Bristol, Northampton and Stafford.

Wincanton Plc have been approached for comment on the plans.