Company founded by former Tour de France winner set to create almost 400 jobs on outskirts of Grimsby

                                                                               

Visual impression of the proposed development which will be screened by trees

A COMPANY founded by a former cycling champion is poised to create almost 400 jobs on the outskirts of  Grimsby.

At the time when he was winning the Tour de France three times, it is questionable whether California-born Greg Lemond  (63) had even heard of Grimsby.                                           

But this week, North East Lincolnshire Council gave LeMond Carbon UK - a subsidiary of his Tennessee-based company - the planning green light to build a factory to manufacture the most technologically-advance carbon fibre yet known to industry.

The location earmarked for the project is the site which was formerly  base for the Bluestar Fibres  factory off Energy Park Way, 

Agents for LeMond UK say: " The proposed development is expected to create 384 new jobs  once the development is complete in 2030. 

"These will include high-skill technical roles as well as entry-level and administration roles.

"In addition to those direct jobs there will be a number of indirect jobs that will arise in  various supply chains."

There is increasing international demand for carbon fibre in a range of products including  aircraft and spacecraft parts, racing car bodies, golf club shafts,  fishing rods, automobile springs, sailboat masts, camera and 'scope tripods and bicycle frames (of course).

                                                 

American Greg LeMond racing in 1989 - photo: Chris Timms via Wikimedia Commons

What these products have is a requirement for  light weight in combination with high strength.

However, particularly lucrative markets being targeted by LeMond are the offshore wind and hydrogen propulsion sectors.

The statement continues: "LeMond Carbon UK Limited  is commercialising the first major breakthrough in carbon fibre processing technology in over 40 years. 

"It has been developed at Deakin University in Geelong, Australia, whose experts have found a way to reduce protection costs by 30 per cent while reducing carbon emissions arising from the production process is reduced by 50 per cent.

                                             

Father-of-three Greg LeMond as he is now

At present, the UK is almost entirely dependent upon imported carbon fibre, and it is understood that the Government, recognising the need for home-produced  supply is supporting LeMond to set up the  new Grimsby facility.

An objection by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust that the project might compromise birdlife on the nearby Novartis Ings shorebird mitigation site was acknowledged by planners but not deemed sufficient to block the planning application

An objection was also raised that any materials generated into the atmosphere by the various production processes might be hazardous to human health, but LeMond quelled these concerns with assurances about its rigorous health and safety practices. 

It is not yet known when work will start on clearing the last few BlueStar Fibre buildings in readiness for construction of the new factory and offices.