The Scottish Government today announced that Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and Marsh Wind Technology have established a joint venture to secure the future of the Skykon factory at Machrihanish, near Campbeltown.

The joint venture has been approved as the 'preferred bidder' and the new company Wind Towers Ltd, is submitting proposals to acquire Skykon, from the Administrators, within the next few weeks.

Commenting on the announcement Alan Reid, MP for Argyll and Bute, said;

“I am encouraged by the news that Scottish & Southern Energy and Marsh Wind Technology are seriously interested in taking over the former Skykon factory at Machrihanish. I hope that their bid will succeed and the new factory will soon be producing towers. I am, however, concerned by SSE’s statement that not all the existing workers will be kept on. Less than two years ago Mr Salmond promised us 450 new jobs in Kintyre. These jobs never came and now it looks as if Kintyre is going to lose more jobs. The Scottish Government must tell us what they are going to do to keep their 2009 promise of 450 new jobs.”

Alison Hay, Liberal Democrat PPC for Holyrood added:

“I am pleased to hear the news that a Joint Venture between Scottish & Southern Energy and Marsh Wind Technology has been approved as the preferred bidder to take over the Skykon factory in Campbeltown. The axe which has been hanging over Campbeltown since last October may now be lifted. Campbeltown needs as much assistance as it can get with jobs and this is good news for the workforce. However, I’m a bit dismayed to read that there may be some redeployment and re-structuring and I hope that all the workforce can be kept on. This is not a triumph for the SNP yet, as clearly there is a lot more talking to be done before the workforce can be confident of a secure future.”

Notes:

First Minister Alec Salmond had this to say on 13 May 2009 “This is a truly transformational development for the Mull of Kintyre, bringing with it an overall economic impact of no less than 450 new jobs, effectively moving this beautiful area of Scotland - previously an unemployment blackspot - towards full employment.”