llanblogger exclusive ...
* At the sod-cutting ceremony, from left, are town crier Austin Chemenais,
Ken Skates AM, County Councillor Stuart Davies, Llangollen Mayor
Cllr Bob Lube, managing director of Dobson & Crowther Paul Holden and
Nick Scott, CEO of developers J-Ross.
* A general view of the Cilmedw site.
The first sod has been cut on the site of a new factory for the Dobson & Crowther printworks at Cilmedw.
The ceremony this morning (Friday) was performed by the
Mayor of Llangollen, Cllr Bob Lube, watched a group of VIPs from the company,
developers J-Ross and the world of local politics.
The new factory will allow Dobson & Crowther’s current
premises nearby on the A5 to be demolished to make way for a planned new
Sainsbury’s supermarket.
Building work at Cilmedw is due to be complete by late
summer with work starting on the supermarket shortly afterwards.
Clwyd South Assembly Member, Deputy
Minister for Skills and Technology in the Welsh Government, who was at the
ceremony said: “This is a great day for Llangollen and the Dee Valley.
“It is vital that we
attract high quality, skilled jobs to rural areas, particularly for younger people,
and this project will do precisely that.
“It will not only secure
Dobson & Crowther’s future but also open up opportunities for job creation
and help Llangollen to become a stronger and more vibrant community.”UPDATE
* Keep Llangollen Special has submitted the following statement in response to the story:
"Keep Llangollen Special regrets that the Mayor of Llangollen and other dignitaries have chosen to associate themselves in a supportive manner with the job losses at Dobson & Crowther.
"Having researched this particular niche industry in detail, KLS forecasted these losses - from an original workforce of 110, now 60 – over two years ago.
"Billed as safeguarding precious jobs at Llangollen’s largest employer, this was the crux of granting planning permission despite powerful objections, including well-founded predictions of these job cuts. There are no other firms in North Wales where these people’s skills will be sought after, which leaves them especially disadvantaged in the job market.
"The smiles to camera will not be shared by these victims of broken promises. We call on those present to show at least a little contrition for their plight and undertake to procure resources to help them retrain in new skills to help them support their families.
"Given the new building and new machinery, we predict further jobs in line with European competitors who are more productive and run with fewer employees.
"In particular, we call upon Councillor Stuart Davies to apologise for falsely blaming the job cuts on objectors."
Chair, Keep Llangollen Special
Chair, Keep Llangollen Special
“This is a great day for Llangollen and the Dee Valley".
ReplyDelete“It is vital that we attract high quality, skilled jobs to rural areas, particularly for younger people, and this project will do precisely that.....as well as making 30 people redundant in the Process.......
Or being told that if they take 20% pay cut there will not be any redundancies (for now). Putting most of these 'quality skilled' jobs on minimum wage. Look what's happened to Cefn Mawr since Tesco moved in..wake up Llangollen before its too late. But I think it is already..
ReplyDeleteThis project has all the hallmarks of a Greek tragedy, with its flawed heroes, chorus of councillors and big business and hubris at yesterday's ceremony. Dobson and Crowther may move into their new factory but there is no guarantee they will stay, and we may be left with a 20,000-foot supermarket, strategically placed to suck in the passing trade Llangollen relies on.
ReplyDeleteIn the original Local Development Plan re Cilmedw it clearly states that planning permission would only be given for such development, if it resulted in the provision of new jobs. There are no new jobs in the Dobson & Crowther exercise - and quite a few old jobs have gone as well. The bulk of any supermarket jobs will be short hours and minimum wage. How many of the above will be smiling outside the closed town shops, whose business the supermarket has taken? Such short-termism is rife in councils across the nation. Llangollen and Denbighshire are no exception.
ReplyDeleteClwyd South Assembly Member, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology in the Welsh Government, who was at the ceremony said: “This is a great day for Llangollen and the Dee Valley. It will secure Dobson & Crowther’s future.”
ReplyDeleteWell, that didn't last very long, did it?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-33158917