The leader of Falkirk Council says she is "devastated" by the announcement from bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis that it plans to move all UK operations to England. The announcement today (Wednesday) puts 400 jobs at risk in its factories in the Falkirk area, as the company launched a consultation with staff at its plants in Larbert and Camelon. Its plan to centralise operations in Scarborough will mean its factory in Camelon closing and production ending in Larbert once current contracts are completed. Read more: Falkirk Council stops sale of land to golf club amid greenkeeper compensation row The leader of Falkirk Council, Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, said council staff are gearing up to provide workers with support “On behalf of the Council I would like to say how devastated we are by this announcement from Alexander Dennis," she said. “Our immediate concern is with the valued workforce and their families who have been the bedrock of bus production in Scotland, and who will no doubt be distressed by this news. “I have asked our officers to immediately engage with the Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE), led by Skills Development Scotland, to begin the process of supporting the employees with the range of practical advice, skills development, and training support available to them, at this difficult time. “This announcement is another illustration that manufacturing in the UK is in crisis. "High energy prices and carbon taxes are making our major industries uncompetitive with the rest of the world, and if something isn’t done by the UK Government in the near future then we will continue to see closures like this up and down the UK. “Falkirk and Grangemouth remain outstanding locations for industrial activity due to the highly skilled local workforce and unrivalled transport and logistical infrastructure. "What we need now is an economic environment that supports rather than hinders our local companies to grow and be successful.” Paul Davies, Alexander Dennis president and managing director, said the changes would “underpin financial sustainability and lower operating costs in the face of changing and challenging market dynamics”. “It is extremely regrettable that as part of this, we must place jobs at potential risk of redundancy and propose to cease manufacturing operations at some of our facilities.” But he added that “the stark reality is that current UK policy does not allow for the incentivisation or reward of local content, job retention and creation, nor does it encourage any domestic economic benefit”. “We strongly believe funding that supports public transport should lead to investment in local jobs, domestic supply chains, technology creation and a recurrent tax base." The GMB Scotland union said the move was a “hammer blow” for communities “already reeling” from the closure of the nearby oil refinery at Grangemouth. Senior organiser Robert Deavy said: “If the company is reviewing its future operations, it must do so with an open mind and a determination to save jobs, not shed them. “We will do everything in our power to secure the future of Alexander Dennis in Falkirk, but so must the company and so must ministers.” Scottish Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said the Scottish Government has in recent weeks “engaged extensively” with the company and its parent firm NFI in an attempt to mitigate redundancies. She pledged: “The Scottish Government will continue to explore any and all options throughout the consultation period to allow the firm to retain their hard-working employees and manufacturing and production facilities at Falkirk and Larbert.” But Falkirk's Labour MP, Euan Stainbank, said the Scottish Government shared some of the blame after the recent ScotZEB2 funding scheme sent "four times more orders to China than to Falkirk". He said: "I will exhaust every avenue to avoid the loss of jobs and the closure of Falkirk's century old bus manufacturing industry. "My sole priority will be fighting for the interests of the workforce and I believe there is still a solution." For more Falkirk stories, sign up to our newsletter here .