Almost 60 job losses have been announced in Settle after all the staff at Greenfoot Care Home and 18 members of the workforce at Arla Foods were told they were being made redundant next year.

The news comes four years after 34 jobs were lost when Langcliffe Paper Mill closed, and two years after Giggleswick Quarry closed with the loss of six jobs.

Plans are currently being made to create an extra care housing scheme on the site of Greenfoot. Despite permission not yet being secured, all 40 members of staff at Greenfoot have been issued with redundancy notices by North Yorkshire County Council and, subject to planning permission being secured, the care home will close in mid-February.

Former town mayor David Heather said: “Hopefully these people will be offered jobs in the new scheme when it opens, although no one knows quite how long it will take to build.”

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said: “Staff are now involved in a 90-day consultation period about future employment opportunities for them and have been assured that the county council will do all it can to offer suitable redeployment options.

“We value the expertise and professionalism of our staff and wish to retain their skills if at all possible. The county council’s human resources department and Unison are working closely with staff to maximise opportunities for them.”

One of the town’s largest employers, Arla Foods has said it will shed 18 jobs with the transfer of the butter production side of the creamery to its joint venture site at Westbury in Wiltshire.

Historically, Arla’s own-label butter has been produced at Settle as well as Götene in Sweden and Varde in Denmark. The company said the move would consolidates Arla’s UK own-label butter requirements on one site.

As a result of the transfer, which will start from summer 2011, Settle creamery’s butter- making facility will become redundant. About 18 staff will be affected, subject to consultation.

Lars Dalsgaard, business group director, said: “It is with regret that we announce potential job losses at Settle and we are committed to giving full support to affected colleagues to help them find alternative employment both internally and externally of Arla Foods, subject to the consultation process.

“Our decision wasn’t taken lightly, but the proposal is strategically important for Arla both in terms of improving internal efficiencies and enhancing our environmental credentials in line with our carbon reduction strategy.”