The Kintyre Forum

Following hot on the heels of Welcon Towers and the CHORD waterfront project, some further good news for the Toon - Richard Lochhead, Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment, has announced that a new state-of the-art creamery, with increased capacity, will be built to replace the existing Campbeltown Creamery, securing the future of 40 dairy farms and 100 jobs.

Jim Mather has expressed his delight. “This is really excellent news, particularly for the Kintyre peninsula, but it is another boost to the economy of Argyll and Bute. Worth £11 million a year to the local economy this should ensure the future for the dairy farmers who supply the Creamery, for which there is no other viable outlet. This venture certainly merits the largest-ever government grant for a dairy company in Scotland and underlines the determination of our Holyrood parliament to seek secure long term solutions across Scotland”.

The new factory will allow for increased production, provide processing efficiencies that cannot be achieved at the current plant, and allow the treatment and processing of whey, which is currently a waste product.

Funding will come from three sources: up to £3.9 million from the Scottish Government; the sale of First Milk’s existing creamery site to Tesco Stores Ltd; and funding from First Milk, the UK’s leading dairy farmer co-operative.

Does that mean that Tesco may well build another supermarket which would in turn create more jobs for the area?

This is great news for an excellent local product and for the local agricultural industry. Does anybody know what Tesco's intentions are?

Just a thought. What will happen to the "angel's share" if the cheese is produced in a new building instead of Burnside Creamery?

Hopefully get some petrol pumps in!!

[quote="EMDEE"]This is great news for an excellent local product and for the local agricultural industry. Does anybody know what Tesco's intentions are?


A store similar to Oban.... thats the news from the checkout....

From the BBC website written by a local man

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/sou ... 129166.stm

Hopes for Tesco and creamery jobs
By Jamie McIvor
BBC Scotland news

Supermarket chain Tesco is set to create up to 200 jobs in Campbeltown in a move which may boost the local economy.

The company is planning to replace its store in the town with a far larger branch on the current site of Campbeltown Creamery.

Meanwhile, a new state-of-the-art creamery will be built on the other side of the town.

The move should safeguard 100 jobs and 42 dairy farms in the area.

However, some in the area are likely to be concerned that the enlarged supermarket might do more harm than good and lead to the closure of shops in the town centre.

The creamery is vital to the local economy and beyond and this investment will enable its owners to take full advantage of new developments in the food sector

Campbeltown Creamery, owned by First Milk, is supplied by 42 dairy farms and the dairy sector in Kintyre is worth £11m a year to the local economy. There is no other viable processing outlet for these farms and future prospects were bleak without a replacement creamery.

The new creamery will have a larger capacity than the existing one and will be funded from three sources: up to £3.9m from the Scottish Government; the sale of First Milk's existing creamery site to Tesco Stores Ltd; and funds from First Milk, the UK's leading dairy farmer co-operative.

Visiting Campbeltown, the Scottish Government's rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead said: "This substantial investment is a great boost for the peninsula of Kintyre and the dairy sector.

"I made it clear at our recent Dairy Summit that we are committed to doing all we can to support the Scottish dairy sector. Our largest-ever grant for a dairy company in Scotland proves that we are willing to turn words into decisive action.

"The creamery is vital to the local economy and beyond and this investment will enable its owners to take full advantage of new developments in the food sector while delivering much-needed environmental improvements."

Peter Humphreys, First Milk chief executive, said: "This is a red-letter day for First Milk and our employees and dairy farmers on Kintyre. The creamery and the dairy farming community on the peninsula are mutually dependent, and this new investment secures the future of the dairy industry in this part of Scotland.

"From day one the Scottish Government provided us with encouragement for this project and we are very grateful for the grant assistance they have committed to give us.

"We are also delighted that Tesco are involved with us on this project. They have been extremely supportive of our plans to maximise the potential of the excellent cheese we produce on Kintyre."

While some in the area may be concerned about the overall impact of Tesco's plans, the new creamery is the second major boost to the area's economy in recent months.

The Vestas wind turbine factory just outside the town had faced closure with the loss of 100 jobs. But it was taken over by rival company Welcon and the hope is it may expand substantially over the next few years.

Tourism hopes

Meanwhile, there is widespread optimism locally that Campbeltown is now finally putting its economic problems of recent years behind it.

Three run-down housing developments by the town centre have been bulldozed and are being replaced by high quality developments. A new swimming pool and leisure centre have also helped revive the town.

A new 18 hole golf course is also due to officially open later this summer, close to the established course at Machrihanish. The hope is that this could help boost tourism.

However, there seems to be little likelihood of reviving a ferry service between Kintyre and Northern Ireland in the immediate future despite the Scottish Government's support for the idea.

EMDEE wrote:Does anybody know what Tesco's intentions are?

Same as it's always been.......... to provide (under one roof) a place where you can happily spend your entire household income every week, consequently shutting down the competition, and finally .......and most importantly making as much profit as possible.

Great news for the the entire agricultural community, not just the dairy farmers. Great news for the Creamery.

Greta news all round for jobs etc! Just one worry, whats going to happen to the old tesco store in lochend street? I live a stones throw from it and I dont fancy having a building that size being empty in my street. Also it's actually a very sympathetic building for a supermarket, would be a shame to knock it doon!
Apart from that excellent news! Credit crunch? What credit crunch!!

Trapper wrote:Greta news all round for jobs etc! Just one worry, whats going to happen to the old tesco store in lochend street? I live a stones throw from it and I dont fancy having a building that size being empty in my street. Also it's actually a very sympathetic building for a supermarket, would be a shame to knock it doon!
Apart from that excellent news! Credit crunch? What credit crunch!!

I bet you couldn't hit it.

Superb news for the town, think the new Tesco store will create atleast 200 new jobs.
The old store had to be put on the market I think.. will be interesting to see what we get in its place.

Have they got a new site in mind for the Creamery?

Kevin Mc wrote:Have they got a new site in mind for the Creamery?

The existing Tesco site?

Kevin Mc wrote:Have they got a new site in mind for the Creamery?

Snipefield.

A Horse called Juan Face wrote:

Trapper wrote:Greta news all round for jobs etc! Just one worry, whats going to happen to the old tesco store in lochend street? I live a stones throw from it and I dont fancy having a building that size being empty in my street. Also it's actually a very sympathetic building for a supermarket, would be a shame to knock it doon!
Apart from that excellent news! Credit crunch? What credit crunch!!

I bet you couldn't hit it.

No but Keith richards could.

Think Creamery going to Snipefield, Tesco then moves to vacated Creamery premises, what happens to the old Tesco site is anyones guess - do they own the land ??