The Oban Times

There was excellent news in recent days as the owner of the aluminium smelter in Fort William unveiled its plans to transform the plant into a substantial manufacturing hub by expanding and employing many hundreds of people.

The news was, quite rightly, greeted enthusiastically by local politicians Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, and Ian Blackford, MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber.

Mr Blackford summed up the news by saying: ‘There is no doubt in my mind that what they are doing is good for Lochaber and the Highlands.’ He added that there was ‘the real prospect of re-industrialisation of the Highlands bringing very much-needed jobs and an economic boost’.

Ms Forbes, for her part, reflected the excitement felt across Lochaber by commenting: ‘The potential for jobs is enormous.’

It is heartening to see such positivity, though Mr Blackford was also correct in warning that social infrastructure must be in place to allow the development to go ahead.