AROUND 20 staff have been made redundant from Welwyn Hatfield Council's housing repairs workforce. The bombshell was dropped at a meeting yesterday afternoon (Thursday) when shocked

AROUND 20 staff have been made redundant from Welwyn Hatfield Council's housing repairs workforce.

The "bombshell" was dropped at a meeting yesterday afternoon (Thursday) when shocked staff were told of the job losses.

Private company Mears began the council contract in October 2007 - taking on plumbers, carpenters, bricklayers, painters and administrators who used to work for the council direct.

Councillor Maureen Cook told the WHT she was very angry with the job losses.

"It's outrageous," she said.

"There was no indication that this was going to happen."

The posts lost include supervisors, some of which have given 30 years service to the borough, and administration workers.