MANUFACTURING in Braintree has suffered a “devastating” blow after proposals to axe nearly 100 jobs at a major firm were unveiled.

CommScope, in Springwood Drive, Braintree, sent a letter to employees warning them of 93 potential redundancies.

The letter said: “The company has concluded there is a risk that it will be unable to continue to provide work for all of its employees supporting manufacturing operations based at the Braintree facility and that it may therefore have to make redundancies.

“The company will be exploring ways of avoiding compulsory redundancies and minimising the number of employees affected.”

Commscope, which provides broadband and wireless services, said only the manufacturing facility was at risk, and the distribution side of the business would not be affected.

Liz Storey, from Ignite Business on Springwood Drive said, any job loss was detrimental.

She said: “The business has to do what it has to do but sadly the employees will suffer.

“What a devastating impact it will have on the local economy, and it’s not the best timing before Christmas.

“Hopefully it is not definite.”

Ian Gorrie, branch manager at Denmans Electricals on the industrial estate, said it was a huge shame as the business has been around for a long time.

He said: “It’s also a shame as they will lose people from the local area.

“It does seem like a viable estate so hopefully there will be opportunities elsewhere, but you can never tell nowadays.

“It’s a lot of jobs to lose and anything like that which hits the estate will make people worry, especially so close to Christmas.

“It’s dreadful.”

Commscope said the move was nothing to do with Brexit, instead saying it was planning to reduce “extra capacity”.

A spokesman did not reveal whether workers affected could find jobs elsewhere within the company, which has more than 30 facilities in its global manufacturing and distribution network.

He said: “CommScope informed employees on November 3 at its Braintree facility of the start of a consultation process regarding the potential discontinuation of manufacturing operations at the site.

“A decision about the changes being considered will not be made until the consultation process has been completed, which will take a minimum of 30 days.”

The consultation process with employee representatives will run between November 22 and December 22.

Braintree MP James Cleverly said he would contact the business to try and help prevent the situation.

He said: “As the local MP it’s always concerning when you hear there may be more job losses in the constituency.

“I will do whatever I can to try and ensure these jobs stay in the local area.

“It’s very much against the run of recent economic news, as the level of unemployment in Braintree has reduced.”