ALMOST 100 jobs could be lost in Okehampton because of restructuring by a major dairy company.

Fresh milk company Robert Wiseman Dairies has confirmed 93 jobs may potentially be affected due to two new centres opening elsewhere in the country.

The firm is considering scaling down production shifts at Okehampton from two to a single operation — such a move would cut the 150-strong workforce by more than half.

The dairy has gone into a 30-day consultation period, during which it will ask staff at the Okehampton centre for their input and ideas.

Communications director for Robert Wiseman Dairies Graeme Jack said it was important not to prejudge the outcome of the consultation.

He said: 'As a business we need to strike a balance between operating as efficiently as possible, while retaining the staff that we have in roles that help us to achieve this.

'We are also offering a good package for anyone who wants to move from Okehampton to the new dairy in Bridgwater.'

The Bridgwater dairy has announced plans to increase capacity from 250 million litres to 375 million litres per annum.

The Scottish company is set to employ up to 300 staff at its £15-million distribution centre in Amesbury in Wiltshire, which is due to open in November.

Robert Wiseman's group operations director Martyn Mulcahy, said: 'While it is our intention to continue creating new jobs in the South and South West, each of our facilities must match our overall operational requirements going forward.

 'We are committed to consulting with staff representatives at each stage of these reviews and have pledged to minimise any job losses and will offer relocation packages to those who may be affected.'

Mr Jones said that for some people who had been at Okehampton for a generation, relocation might not be viable: 'For a lot of those people, that option will sadly be unrealistic.

'We had hoped that they would understand and recognise the need to maintain jobs in their regional outposts.'

West Devon Borough Cllr Christine Marsh said she felt saddened by the affects the job losses would have: 'I'm disappointed this has happened.

'Any major employer in this town is important and the loss of jobs is just terrible.

'It's bad enough anyway, but when it comes here it's not a huge industrial area, and it affects everyone and their families.

'It's a shame because it takes away from the rural areas — it seems that rural areas are always penalised in one way or another.'

The award-winning dairy company moved its Torrington operation to the Okehampton site in 2006, which resulted in 45 job losses at the time.

Another 88 workers at its Somerset distribution site and 33 at its Bristol centre also face redundancy.

National officer for the union, Usdaw, John Gorle, said: 'On one hand dealing with the creation of 300 jobs in Amesbury has been welcomed, but that then has to be set against a greater level of job losses in Okehampton.

'We have an obligation to our number at Okehampton that they are treated as fairly and reasonably as possible.'

Mr Gorle said the consultation process has been put in place to enable local representatives to look at all the alternatives possible to minimise job losses.

He added: 'The other good thing is the financial offer from Robert Wiseman Dairies, for those who may choose to relocate.

'It is my intention to go down to each of the sites, and in this case, Okehampton and Bridgwater, to ensure that the consultation process is working.'