THE proposal of Nestlé to shed 160 jobs in York leaves a bitter taste in the mouth (The Press, April 26).

Once these jobs have gone, they’ve gone.

I don’t think the likes of Seebohm and Joseph Rowntree as well as ex-chairmen Sir Donald Barron and Kenneth Dixon would be too pleased about the situation.

At one time 19,700 people were employed in its heyday.

Each day I drive by the once thriving and prestigious Terry’s of York and I just lament at the decline in our chocolate history and employment. York was a world class manufacturing city - and growing up you could smell chocolate in the air.

York Central MP Rachael Maskell claims Nestlé cannot afford vital machinery investment into York because of the falling pound.

Nestlé took over Rowntree Mackintosh - the fourth largest chocolate company in the world in 1988 - and have invested £200 million since, so that argument doesn’t stand scrutiny.

We don’t want our vast Rowntree world class brands stolen from us (as with Terry’s) and made in other countries, thank you.

Our MPs and council need to be banging on the door of Nestlé UK and Ireland CEO Dame Fiona Kendrick and make the cuckoo clocks at Nestlé HQ in Switzerland sing a different tune.

Keith Massey, Bishopthorpe, York