Vestas The End

[Kintyre Forum News]

From the Argyll & Bute Council Website

Emergency meeting called over future of Vestas factory
Monday, 18 August 2008 14:23

An emergency meeting was held at Argyll and Bute Council's headquarters today (Monday 18th August) to discuss Friday's shock announcement that the Vestas wind turbine factory is to close its manufacturing plant in Kintyre with the lose of 92 jobs.

Council officials met with representatives from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Argyll and Bute MP Alan Reid to discuss ways to try and save the factory and help protect Kintyre's already fragile economy.
Councillor Dick Walsh said: "We need to work together to try and secure a future in Kintyre for the staff who are being made redundant. I believe many of the workforce have been offered jobs elsewhere but we must do everything in our power to try and ensure that this skilled, loyal workforce is retained locally.

"The closure of Vestas will not only have a direct impact on those being paid off and their families, but it will also affect many more people, including those who help transport the turbines and the catering team who serve the factory's canteen. The wage bill alone for Vestas is said to be around £2.5 million - that is a huge lose to the local economy.

"Together we need to work hard and fast to do the best we can for this area of South Argyll during what is a very worrying and apprehensive time for everyone involved in this disappointing news."

Unfortunately, no representative from Vestas attended the meeting, insisting that any talks had to take place at the company's head office in Denmark. As a result, it was agreed that the group will write to the Scottish Government urging a delegation to arrange a meeting with the Chief Executive of Vestas as soon as possible.

According to the company, the renewable energy market is moving extremely quickly and Vestas now plans to focus on offshore developments in the North Sea. Those at today's meeting agreed to look at the advances in technology in the hope of possibly attracting another wind turbine manufacturer to the area.

Alan Reid MP, also advised those in attendance that he would write to the Secretary of State as a matter of urgency to find out what the future held for the former MoD base in Campbeltown as, depending on what decision is taken, this has the potential for job opportunities in the long term.

A further meeting will take place in Campbeltown on Friday with Argyll and Bute MSP Jim Mather, in his role as Scottish Energy Minister to look at various options.

[elainemck]

I'm glad to hear that the council et al are taking this seriously and treating the closure of Vestas as a matter of urgency. I am sure with enough pressure and government involvement a solution can be found for this.

Is it possible for another company to takeover the factory? What about a government owned factory/turbines - maybe it could power the whole of the town and we could get cheaper bills Maybe get a company to takeover that does get the contracts? And what about writing into their contract that they've got to wait here for 'x' amount of years if they are using government subsidies etc etc???

[macyA]

Heard today that the production part of vestas is closing but the service dept. will be staying open.
Anyone know if there's any truth in this?

[Mary G]

From the Herald today

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/di ... enmark.php

Meetings to save wind farm must take place in Denmark
The Danish operators of a closure-threatened wind-turbine factory have said they will not meet local representatives unless they are willing to travel to Denmark.

An emergency meeting was held at Argyll and Bute Council's headquarters in Lochgilphead yesterday to discuss Friday's shock announcement that the Vestas wind-turbine factory at Machrihanish, near Campbeltown, is to close its manufacturing plant in Kintyre with the loss of 92 jobs.

Council officials met representatives from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Argyll and Bute MP Alan Reid to discuss ways to try and save the factory.

Council leader Dick Walsh said: "We need to work together to try and secure a future in Kintyre for the staff who are being made redundant. I believe many of the workforce have been offered jobs elsewhere, but we must do everything in our power to try and ensure that this skilled, loyal workforce is retained locally.

"The wage bill alone for Vestas is said to be around £2.5m - that is a huge loss to the local economy."

A council statement said no representative from Vestas attended the meeting, insisting that any talks had to take place at the company's head office in Denmark.

As a result, it was agreed that the group which met yesterday will write to the Scottish Government urging a delegation to arrange a meeting with the chief executive of Vestas as soon as possible.

A further meeting will take place in Campbeltown on Friday with Argyll and Bute MSP and Energy Minister Jim Mather.

[petewick]

[quote="Mary G"]Council officials met representatives from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Argyll and Bute MP Alan Reid to discuss ways to try and save the factory.

Council leader Dick Walsh said: "We need to work together to try and secure a future in Kintyre for the staff who are being made redundant. I believe many of the workforce have been offered jobs elsewhere, but we must do everything in our power to try and ensure that this skilled, loyal workforce is retained locally.



quote

I get a sense of de ja vu here, aka we've heard all this p#sh before when Jaeger closed.
Let's face it, when the grants dry up these firms move out.

[EMDEE]

Looks like Vestas are really interested in having a meeting with local representatives.

Dead horse being flogged?

[Trapper]

I agree with petewick, its a disgrace but unfortunately thats the "free market economy" for ye!

[EMDEE]

Is it really the case, as the Courier implies, that the non-provision of a Campbeltown to Ballycastle ferry is an important factor in the demise of the Vestas operation?

[Kevin Mc]

Any more news on this? I saw in last weeks Courier that there was a meeting in Glasgow between politicians and senior Vestas management. Did anything come out of this meeting?

[bakbjerg]

Is it really the case, as the Courier implies, that the non-provision of a Campbeltown to Ballycastle ferry is an important factor in the demise of the Vestas operation?

Well, I was hammered on for suggesting that there had to be other reasons than just "grants" running out, so I barely dare agreeing with you EMDEE, but I still think so. Vestas must have calculated wrong somewhere in their expectations about selling, infrastructure/ferry terminal, exploding transport costs or … ? As remote as this place is, and given the road conditions around here, a production like this is fully dependent on transport away from here by sea.

Through the years they have been paying ½ million yearly for leasing the buildings, and are continuing to do so, and the buildings are still there when they leave. With the current employment figures they have 2½ million in salary cost yearly, (must have been even more earlier on then). On top of that, costs for local subcontractors. All added together, Vestas has been putting a lot into it, and that’s why it's a big loss if they leave.

But if the attitude like Boaby’s below is widely spread, perhaps it’s not that big a loss after all ?

ach come on we all knew they'd R U N O F T when the grant money stopped
but not until they'd reeled us in and spat us out, put a few birds on the endangered list, ruined our scenery and churned up the roads
who's next I wonder...

[katya]

I saw on BBC breakfast news that Scottish Power are proposing to build 3 new wave-power 'farms' - one being off Islay and another off the Antrim coast. They will be applying for planning to manufacture the turbines next year.

[bill]

I saw on BBC breakfast news that Scottish Power are proposing to build 3 new wave-power 'farms' - one being off Islay and another off the Antrim coast. They will be applying for planning to manufacture the turbines next year.

At least there should'nt be any objections from the NIMBY brigade.

[workingaway]

It sounds to me as if Vesta's aren't interested in any way shape or form, in trying to save the production of wind turbines in Campbeltown.
Why do we need to go to Denmark to a meeting? I feel that the least Vesta's could do is take the time to come to Scotland and make some attempt at trying to save all these jobs. I can't believe that it's unecenomical to produce the turbines here and if it isn't, then surely they themselves should be looking at other ways to make it ecenomical, instead of just jumping ship when the going gets tough and the susidisation has ceased.
After experiencing at first hand the effects of of the last recession and the effect that of an imminent recession within the UK, i know how the staff will feel who are about to lose their jobs. Like has been previously said, this has a domino effect and will impact on the local businesses within the community.

This really is the last thing that Campbeltown needed, the way things are going, they would be as well putting up a sign, saying, "Campbeltown is now officially closed until further notice".

[rtodd31]

don'y know about anyone else but i wish vestas would make up they're mind thats another week put back and its not that families really need to know whats going on denmark are lucky i can't contact them

they can't keep dragging this on they either just get them a date like they done and stop keeping the workers dangling on a piece of string nearly every other week my hubbys came home telling me something different and its doing my head in now
if they're going to keep it open do that if they're closing do that either way people in denmark make up your minds its people jobs and familes that your playing about with!!!

[4th gen Suthen']

Likely this http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/di ... losure.php
bit of news will push saving Vestas further down the agenda