The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Longannet deserted in ‘criminal’ neglect
185 businesses affected by power station’s closure £9 million recovery plan needed as 1,000 workers in supply chain affected Not one penny pledged by Scottish Government – with 236 jobs to be lost at Kincardine plant
jobs: Fife councillors call on Holyrood to commit funds to help with ‘national event’
An impassioned 11th-hour plea has gone out from Fife to the Scottish Government to finance a recovery plan following Longannet’s closure.
On the same day as one of the reactors at Torness nuclear power plant was shut down, councillors in south west Fife backed a motion by Labour Councillor Gavin Yates calling on the Scottish Government to come forward with funding as soon as possible.
To refuse to consider a £9 million package was “criminal”, as it was revealed 185 firms across the country were being hit by the coal-fired power station’s closure in under a fortnight.
“This is truly a national event,” warned Fife Task Force’s project manager Andrew Sim.
Depute Fife Council leader Lesley Laid said the level of engagement with communities and businesses directly affected only served to underline the case for funding.
The Scottish Government has been urged once more to plough cash into the now “critical” situation caused by the imminent closure of Longannet.
There was widespread incredulity when the Scottish Government refused to put one penny into a £9 million economic plan to soften the blow of the power station’s demise.
It had been hoped there would be funding, for the recovery plan developed by Fife, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and North Ayrshire councils in partnership with Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland/PACE.
Now Fife councillors representing the area around the Kincardine plant have added their voice to the growing clamour to ensure the Scottish Government provides funding to breathe new life into the area once the Longannet gates shut.
To do anything else would be a “slap in the face” to local communities.
Briefing south west Fife area committee, Fife Task Force’s project manager Andrew Sim spelled the situation out in no uncertain terms.
“The closure of Longannet is not something Fife Council alone can respond to. “This is truly a national event.” While there were 236 direct jobs going at Longannet – with up to 200 staff already receiving severance packages – its closure is hitting more than 1,000 workers in the supply chain.
“These jobs go as Longannet goes,” warned Councillor Pat Callaghan.
The grim news is that 11 companies in Fife are directly involved and 185 across the whole country.
Mr Sim warned: “We want to avoid what may be a sense of gloom which could come across the area, and the region, when it closes.
“We want to put in real resources which can help.”
Praising ScottishPower as a responsible employer, he revealed that at a business supply chain event to help those affected by the closure the team had already identified between five and six companies “which need support now”.
He said the ambition of the partnership could not be realised without additional resources.
“We have made it clear to the Scottish Government we need that additional support,” he added.
Councillor Mike Shirkie said: “It is criminal that the Government is not considering funding £9 million given the critical state we are in just now.”
Councillor Gavin Yates stressed the magnitude of the problem needed everyone to stand together “or we fall”.
It was important to send a message to the Scottish Government that money was needed as a matter of urgency, because more families were in trouble with each passing day.
His motion, to call on the Scottish Government to come forward with funding as soon as possible, was seconded by Conservative Councillor Dave Dempsey and carried by the committee.