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The truths they don't want you to read....

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Lighthouse Caledonia

With 100 workers facing redundancy by Christmas, we have a solution in sight....
More than 100 fish processing jobs on Lewis on the Western Isles can be saved, according to a local MP.

[...]Mr MacNeil said the firm would like to build a new plant at Arnish on Lewis if a funding package could be agreed.
"Saved" being used in the loosest possible sense.

13 weeks to build and open the factory?

Back in the real world some of us think that the timetable might be just a bit ambitious.
  • Discuss issues with landlords, design factory, seek planning permission and discharge permits from SEPA - at least 12 months
  • Pull together funding package - add 6 months
  • Build new road to replace single track - add 12 months and £millions
  • Build factory and production line - perhaps 12/18 months
Or relocate to the other more efficient factory in Argyll, and expand its capacity.

The non-involvement of the Enterprise Minister (and MSP for Argyll), and the absence of any reference to the Government helping the situation tells it own story.

Having had many past discussions with various management teams in that factory, it's unsuitability has been known for many years, and I feel really sorry for the staff who will be expected to work flat out in the very busy pre-Christmas period, only to receive P45's in the New Year.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did he really think that they gave 3 months notice to the staff to give them the best possible chance of finding work? or so they could budget for harder times? perhaps they wanted to give a competitor the chance of stepping in? Ehhhhh NO, Get more money from HIE, CNES or whoever to line the managment pockets Ehhhh YES

Anonymous said...

Bloody disgusting that millions have been thrown at the Arnish bankrupts, meanwhile this is allowed to happen. Also interesting to compare the loss of these jobs with the potential number to be created by the big windfarms which were fought for so passionately by CNES, WIE, HIE etc. Shame that the councillors have written of their island. Or is is that some of the councillors themselves have less to gain. Just goes to show what their priorities are. Sick, sick, sick!

Anonymous said...

Can you point to the bit where AM said a new factory could be built in 3 months?

No. You cant.

Bayhead Blues said...

It's a crap take all round. Cousin works there and he's getting no information he can trust. Hope the management aren't expecting record productivity and loyalty after how theyve traeted the workers.

Anonymous said...

SY Gusset seems to have cornered your Blog

Anonymous said...

10.08

couldnt agree more - those councillors are something else. Totally un-democratic.

Anonymous said...

Anon 3.48

Typical Parochial view from you. Grants do not and never have lined the pockets of the management. Hopefully in the case of a new build, and therefore rescued jobs, whatever the timescales, any financial assistance will kick-start the local construction industry and will line the pockets of the local companies supplying goods and labour and therefore hundreds of local tradesmen employed in the project. And the Processing Jobs will be secured...

But then again, we can just call them greedy scrounging foreign bassas and not give them a bean and moan about the state of the islands.........

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Anon 2.50pm

Aye. Nice try ya numpty. :-)

Anonymous said...
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