The company last week announced the closure of the factory in Old Edinburgh Road with the loss of 54 jobs, blaming a slump in the UK brick industry for the decision.

However, Central Scotland list MSP Alex Neil said council planning restrictions had prevented the company from managing the site effectively and played a large part in the decision.

But the council has denied his allegation and the firm itself refused to confirm the issue played any part in its decision.

An Ibstock spokesman said: "Due to the ongoing slowdown in the demand for bricks across the UK and the need to balance sales and production capacity whilst maintaining optimum efficiency, Ibstock Brick has announced the proposed closure of its Tannochside factory.

"Consultation has commenced with employees regarding the potential redundancy situation affecting 54 employees in total."

Mr Neil claimed a dispute between the firm and the council had helped drive Ibstock out of Lanarkshire.

He said: ""This is devastating news for the workers. What makes me really angry is that this situation could have been avoided had the council taken action.

"I met representatives from the council's legal department and the planning department more than a year ago. It had become clear that Ibstock were being prevented from managing the site effectively due to planning restrictions. They were not asking for any money – just for the council to take their concerns on board.

"I told these representatives I had been advised that this was making Tannochside a less and less attractive place for Ibstock to base its operations. However, they did not listen to this warning and would not move an inch to address the planning concerns.

"This announcement is, therefore, not much of a surprise to those involved with the site, but I'm sorry to say that North Lanarkshire Council have had a large part to play in Ibstock's decision. They now have a duty to do everything they can to minimise the impact of these job losses."

Mr Neil's claim was rejected by Councillor James Coyle, convener of the council's planning and transportation committee.

He said: "This is terrible news for the staff and their families, and the council will provide support for people losing their jobs to find training or employment opportunities.

"The council is not responsible for the slump in the brick market on which the company based its decision to close.

"Two years ago the council initiated enforcement action against one of Ibstock's suppliers who were operating without planning permission. However, this action would not have affected the UK brick market."

The company itself said it did not wish to comment on Mr Neil's claims.
The closure is the second major jobs blow to hit Tannochside in recent months — in March business services giant Carillion announced the planned closure of its offices with the potential loss of over 700 jobs.

Hamilton North and Bellshill MSP Michael McMahon insisted the Scottish Government's economic policies were partly to blame.

He said: "The closure of any factory is always a tragedy for those who lose their jobs and for the wider community and economy.

"This announcement is even more alarming in that it is another in a series of closures the likes of which we have not seen in this area since the days of the last Conservative Government.

"If we had a government in Edinburgh which was more focused on our economy than the constitution these job losses may have been avoidable.

"The failure to have a consistent and deliverable housing strategy has contributed to a restriction in the housing market which the company clearly blames for its decision.

"It is not good enough for the SNP Government to tinker around with the Scottish Enterprise Network. They must tell us how they will ensure our economy will be sustained so that this series of redundancies does not become an all too familiar trend."