AS a former steelworker of 30 years I have to say many others, past and present, will agree with Robert Merrick’s exclusive report, “Corus was doomed by catalogue of blunders” (Echo, March 6).

My fellow steel colleague, Councillor Billy Ayre, and I have always expressed concerns about a semi-finished slab only having basically an export outlet.

Corus’ decision to close the coil plate mill at Lackenby in 2001 was the beginning of the end of the integrated steel plant on the Redcar/Lackenby sites.

I know from experience – having worked at the Continuous Casting Plant (part of Teesside Cast Products) and the Hartlepool 20” Pipe Mill (which received coil from the Lackenby Coil Plate Mill) – that the demise of the coil plate mill could be severely detrimental to integrated steelmaking on the Redcar/Lackenby sites.

Cessation of steelmaking on Teesside took place on February 19.

Notwithstanding the end of our integrated steel plants I believe there is a market for semi-finished slabs and a buyer/equity partner should take this opportunity to purchase this excellent piece of steelmaking kit.

Councillor George R Dunning, Leader, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.