More than 170 jobs could go at Northampton distribution company

TNT Express, based in Round Spinney, was recently taken over by the American courier company FedEx.

All the employees on the Northampton site were informed on Tuesday that they were at risk of redundancy because FedEx was looking to “consolidate” certain activities and move the distribution operation to a new facility being built in Dartford.

A FedEx spokesman said: “TNT is working to consolidate and standardise certain activities to increase focus on its core delivery business, improve service quality and optimise our network.

“As part of that ongoing commitment, we are proposing to relocate the current core Fashion pick-up and delivery operation from Glenfield depot into existing TNT Express UK depots.

“In addition, we will open our new state-of-the-art facility in Dartford in 2017, and as a result, are proposing to move the existing International Road Hub operation in Northampton to this new site.”

One worker, who did not wish to be named, said he had been told the new depot was scheduled to open in May next year.

He said: “We were are told on Tuesday. Some employees are quite angry and some are relieved.”