AROUND 40 jobs are at risk at the former nuclear site at Winfrith as the end of decommissioning looms.

Magnox Limited, created following the merger of Magnox and Research Sites Restoration Limited, aims to cut up to 1,600 jobs across 12 sites by September 2016.

This includes staff, agency workers and contractors.

The Unite union described the cuts as “shocking”.

A Magnox statement said: "The mission to safely decommission the Magnox sites has always predicted reducing staff numbers over the coming years. Following a review of the requirements for delivering the closure programme, we now have more detail on the workforce profile required for the period up to September 2016.

"This week we shared information with our staff about the proposed reductions across our 12 sites. Across the organisation, we expect there to be 1,400-1,600 reductions across the 12 sites over the period to September 2016. This reduction includes staff, agency and contract resource.

"These proposed reductions arise from planned step downs in the work programme at a number of sites and the implementation of a more streamlined operating model for delivering decommissioning.

"We will seek wherever possible for these reductions to be through voluntary means and we will endeavour to re-train staff in roles where we are currently reliant on agency resources.

"We are now going through a period of formal collective consultation with our recognised trade unions and individual consultation and counselling staff before an appropriate best fit exercise begins.

"It is our intent to further mitigate the impact of these reductions by offering alternative roles in the wider Cavendish Nuclear/Fluor business and elsewhere through a number of existing mechanisms.

"We will work with the trade unions to support our employees and to ensure that changes are managed fairly, with respect for the individuals involved and in a way which makes best use of the important skills the workforce have built up."

Winfrith was a major centre for groundbreaking reactor development from the late 1950s to the 1990s. The site is planned to be decommissioned by 2021.

It is believed around 40 jobs out of a total workforce of 209 are at risk.

Unite national officer for energy Kevin Coyne said: “Basically, the workforce is shocked by the number of redundancies involved. Some redundancies were expected, but not on this scale. It will lead to a loss of vital skills and expertise in the nuclear industry which could have an impact on new nuclear build.

“We will be seeking an urgent meeting with the company, as we don’t have numbers of who will be affected prior to any consultation taking place. It is shocking news for the workers and their families. We will be campaigning for no compulsory redundancies.

“Our concern is that the decommissioning of these power stations will be slowed down with such a large reduction in the workforce and the skills that they possess."