PRESSURE is being applied to K Shoes in Kendal and parent company Clarks with meetings taking place this week and next, following last month's announcement of 76 job losses.

On Tuesday, Kendal factory manager Peter Smith faced representatives of Cumbria's High Level Task Force, which included South Lakeland District Council chief executive, Philip Cunliffe, and Cabinet leader Coun Colin Hodgson.

The Task Force began dialogue with K Shoes because of the effect the blow will have on the community, which will have to absorb 46 compulsory redundancies and 30 voluntary losses.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Collins was also today (Friday) due to meet K Shoes boss Mr Smith to outline his concern at the news, which came as parent company Clarks reported pre-tax profits of £ 55.7 million - up 17 per cent year on year.

The MP has arranged to meet Tim Parker, chief executive of parent company Clarks, at the House of Commons next Tuesday in a further effort to seek reassurances about the company's commitment to Kendal.

Mr Collins aims to find out what local steps can be taken to help those who have lost their jobs, as well as discuss what can be done to preserve a K Shoes presence in Kendal, which has experienced wave after wave of redundancies which Clarks has attributed to a decline in manufacturing, and cheap foreign imports.

At the task force meeting this week, figures from Cumbria County Council joined by South Lakeland District Council, union leaders, and investment representatives met Mr Smith at Kendal Town Hall.

SLDC's economy and development manager Richard Greenwood said negotiations would take place again on May 16.

He told the Gazette: "The remit of the Task Force is to try to persuade them to reduce the number of redundancies, or persuade them not to introduce any at all.

"I don't think you could say we came out with either a positive or negative outlook on things.

Negotiations are ongoing and we aim to do what we can.

Lots of questions were asked and answered."

Mr Greenwood said the company was reminded of its importance as a manufacturing outlet in Kendal, and of K Shoes' "crucial" role as a key employer.

Task Force Leader, county councillor Kevan Wilkinson said: "The main role of the high Level Task Force in this case will be to ensure that manufacturing continues at the K Shoes plant in Kendal, and that as few job losses as possible take place.

"The Task Force will do all it can to meet this objective."

The Task Force has offered to help employees who will be made redundant with advice on searching for jobs, preparing curriculum vitae's and interview training.

Clarks' spokesman John Keery, based at Street in Somerset, refused to elaborate on the content of this week's discussion, or the company's position, until negotiations were completed.

He said: "We are obviously talking to people and we are happy to continue to talking to people."