Rubber band benevolence

I was saddened to hear the news that Michelin is planning to close its Dundee factory. While there are allegedly political reasons for the plant’s closure – something which I won’t speculate on – I am aghast that we ignore homegrown tyres for the sake of a couple of quid.

Michelin’s Scottish plant is without doubt one of the world’s most environmentally-sound places in the UK to produce a tyre. Wind turbines are used for electric power and the tyre will never have to sail seas or cross continents to reach us. But is that reflected in the CO2 rating on the sticker? Don’t be daft – I told you that those stickers were bollocks years ago!

What I’m really getting at here is the devastating effect the closure will have on the Dundee economy, turning the town into something from the

Hunger Games society. Some will think I’m exaggerating here, but I speak as somebody who saw the hugely beneficial role both Dunlop and Colway tyres played in my hometown back in the North East. The Dunlop plant took in many friends from my school and gave them skilled, well-paid jobs. Generations worked there and the Sports & Social Club was always booked years in advance. It was the heart of the community after the pits and chemical plant closed.

When I was a Rover salesman, Dunlop bought cars and vans from us – money which was ploughed back into the local economy. It was the same with Goodyear tyres in the West Midlands, where my missus hails from. The chemists and engineers turned out the lights there a year or so ago, manufacturing having long since left with the demise of Rover.

I believe we are losing our ability to make what we need and to also to look after ourselves. I realise I’m sounding like a left-wing Luddite here but, trust me, I’ve seen the positive effect such manufacturing brings to society – and the subsequent devastation when they pull out and the tooling is taken overseas.

It’s for these reasons I’ve got Pirellis on the Freelander (made in Carlisle) and Avons on my Discovery (made in Wiltshire). They may cost a couple of quid extra, but they are no more expensive than other premium tyres. It also means that, regardless of their EU environmental rating, I know they are truly environmentally sound.

So if you are looking to buy a 16in hoop, then give the Jocks a fighting chance and support beleaguered UK manufacturing. End of political broadcast.