More than 200 jobs are on the line at Polestar Chromoworks after the group announced plans to close the Nottingham plant.

Chromoworks managing director Peter Clark told staff in a letter that Polestar was "receptive to considering all constructive alternative proposals" that could enable it to make the required savings, but that the plant would close if no "reasonable" alternatives were found. A 90-day consultation period is underway.

An internal GPMU dispute had ended with the Chromoworks chapel voting against Polestars proposals to cut 32 jobs and change conditions.

Following Polestars announcement, the chapel issued a "No Intention to Close" statement and said it believed the national GPMU would call for clemency and negotiate with Polestar chief executive Barry Hibbert to withdraw the HR1 redundancy notice.

Deputy FOC Martin Quinn said Polestar had handled the situation in "a very crass manner", but added that for the chapel it was "just a case of holding our nerve".

GPMU deputy general secretary Tony Burke has received the HR1 proposed notice of closure for the pressroom, but not for the plants bindery.

PPS web sales director Norman Revill spent "three and a half lovely years" at Chromoworks as a printer and went from a number three to number one web minder.

He said: "Im so sad the guys there have not realised the importance of being flexible in this day and age. A lot of them have worked there for years and dont realise theres too much capacity and too much old equipment out there."

* Polestar has been praised by bmi british midland after handling one of the first jobs under its three-year deal with the airline at Specialist Colour in Dunstable.

Story by Gordon Carson