Governments rally in bid to save fish plant
POLITICIANS have met key figures in a bid to halt the closure of a seafood plant.
Young’s Seafood have announced plans to shut down the Pinneys site in Annan, putting 450 jobs at risk.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell and Scottish Government business minister Paul Wheelhouse both met Young’s chief executive Bill Showalter yesterday.
Wheelhouse told MSPs on Tuesday several parties have expressed an interest in Pinneys.
After the meeting, he said: “I believe it would be important for the company to keep their options open regarding the potential for a buyer of Young’s Seafood, and potentially Pinneys factory in Annan as part of that purchase.
“It is a tremendous workforce and a very high standard of facility.
Mundell met the chief executive of Dumfries and Galloway Council to discuss options for potential buyers.
He said closing the factory would be “utterly devastating to Annan and the wider community”. Mundell added: “I also made clear to them they have an obligation to their workers and must not just walk away from the plant.
“We need to focus now on finding a new future for the plant and the UK Government will do all it possibly can to assist, working with the council, Scottish Government and other partners.”