CHEPSTOW-BASED engineering firm Mabey Bridge is consulting staff over possible job losses at its multi-million-pound wind turbine plant which opened three years ago.

The Argus understands that staff – the company employs around 190 at its Newhouse Farm site in Chepstow – were given details at a series of meetings late last week, and a consultation process will continue until February 8.

The company is revealing very little about the process, but a spokesman said: “Mabey Bridge is embarking on a one-month consultation with staff at its Newhouse manufacturing facility in Chepstow.

“It is anticipated that a small number of jobs may be affected, which the company very much regrets.

“Over the course of the last two years the number of people employed in our business has increased across our manufacturing operations following considerable investment in new facilities, technologies and products.”

The company, part of the Mabey Group, has a long association with Chepstow, and bought the Newhouse site in January 2010, developing it through a £38 million investment, as a manufacturing base for wind turbine towers.

Only a year ago a big order for such towers brought a switch to 24-hour production and the recruitment of 45 staff.