Amazon warehouse in Hemel Hempstead to close

Amazon will shut its Hemel Hempstead’s warehouse in a move ‘to improve the experience for our employees and customers’.

The technology and e-commerce giant employs ‘around 500’ people in Hemel, and said they will be offered roles at Amazon’s Dunstable centre and other nearby locations.

A spokesperson from Amazon said: “We’re always evaluating our network to make sure it fits our business needs and to improve the experience for our employees and customers.”

It added: “As part of that effort, we may close older sites, enhance existing facilities, or open new sites, and we’ve launched a consultation on the proposed closure of three fulfilment centres in 2023. We also plan to open two new fulfilment centres creating 2,500 new jobs over the next three years.

“All employees affected by site closure consultations will be offered the opportunity to transfer to other facilities, and we remain committed to our customers, employees, and communities across the UK.”

Reacting to this news, Sir Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, said: “I am very saddened to hear that Amazon have announced that they will close the fulfilment centre in Maylands in April. This is devastating news for Hemel Hempstead to lose such a big-name employer. I understand that employees will all be offered work at an alternative site, many in Dunstable, but for many employees a move to a new location is not an option. It is a difficult economic situation at the moment for everyone, it is not a good time to lose your job.”

He continued: “Frankly, I am disappointed that Amazon have not been in touch with me or Dacorum Borough Council so that we could prepare to help the local families affected by this news. I am acutely aware that 500 local families will be in shock today with their futures up in the air. I really feel for them.

“The Amazon site in Boundary Way is a prestigious logistics site, close to the M1, so we need to focus on attracting a high quality employer to this site as soon as possible to bring more jobs to our town.”