ROVER is offering a £200 weekly pay boost to workers at the troubled Longbridge plant in Birmingham to make a 140-mile round trip to work at Cowley.

Longbridge workers who decide to move permanently to the luxury car plant at Oxford could receive a relocation package worth up to £8,000.

It is understood employees taking up the offer would also receive free transport for the journey.

A Rover spokesman said: "We won't comment on the figures quoted because an individual's pay is a matter between them and the company. But essentially we are offering them extra shift allowance to work in Cowley."

He added: "It makes sense because we want to utilise the trained people we have at Longbridge. We are still looking for voluntary redundancies in Birmingham, but will need extra people in Oxford as we gear up for production of the new R75."

The news comes as reports emerged of a shake-up in senior management at the car maker.

Rover spokesman Vin Hammersley confirmed that some senior managers would be on the move, but he would not comment on any individual cases.

Meanwhile Rover's parent company BMW is expected to announce the go-ahead for new models to be built at a revitalised Longbridge plant, securing the future of the factory, where 14,000 people work.

BMW's board met yesterday but a decision confirming the £1.7bn investment plan for the plant, which hinges on an injection of Government aid of up to £200m, is not expected until the middle of next week at the earliest.

Story date: Friday 19 March

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