Welcome development

PROSPERITY ‘is the surest route to our common good’, said Barack Obama in his inaugural address as President of the United States and that is true for every nation.

Right now the future is looking clouded for some families who have members working at CS Wind as the company battles to keep its order books full and hold onto jobs – up to 60 jobs are under threat right now.

So the news this week that a wind farm developer wants to cement its relationship with the company, continuing to buy its products, and even sign up to a formal undertaking to buy wind towers from Machrihanish, is to be welcomed.

A jobs fair was held at the town hall last week and our parent company, Wyvex Media, was one of many taking part.

Kintyre has its successes – such as Springbank Distillery – which has seen its workforce grow from 41 to 71 over the past five years. But we need more.

Only prosperity will fill the empty shops around the town and bring young families to live here – or, more importantly, give our young families the confidence to stay – and prosperity comes through investment.

Investment can come from many sectors, including the arts. Kintyre will soon have its historic cinema back in action, newly-renovated, and can also boast an anonymous benefactor who paid for the Antony Gormley statue to remain at Saddell beach.

That is one famous beach: the setting for a Paul McCartney video, for Mull of Kintyre, and now home to a relative of the Angel of the North.