A SLIGHT hitch with a railway firm was the only thing left holding up the development of a factory by an Italian tyre giant in the town in the 1920s.
Burton Town Council revealed that arrangements were being finalised for the arrival of Pirelli at a site in Derby Road.
The new venture was a massive boost for the town in June 1928 and would at its peak employ more than 1,000 workers.
The firm decided to expand into the town to add to its seven tyre factories in Italy, others in Spain and South America as well as an important cable factory in Southampton.
The site where the factory now stands was partially occupied by allotments, which took up the whole 46 acres after being purchased for that purpose in 1919.
However, the owners decided to surrender the land due to the view that it was important to secure new industries to the area.
At the time it was expected that only 20 jobs would be brought in from within the firm and all the other roles would be filled by Burton men and boys.
The plans obviously got the go-ahead and the factory was built.
In 2014, the building is standing and the firm continues its presence to the town and expects to do so into the future.
Source: Burton Mail
Published: 03 Feb 2014