South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has expressed concern that other local businesses could be affected by the news that Langholm contractor T Graham & Son has gone into liquidation with the loss of nearly 30 jobs.
The company, established in 1982, ceased trading on Thursday, with all staff made redundant but Colin Smyth fears that other local businesses owned money by the company could also be badly impacted by the closure.
The job losses are the latest devastating jobs blow to the area following the confirmation that Langholm based Edinburgh Woollen Mill were closing their HQ and moving the 300 jobs to Carlisle, the loss of 14 jobs at Arla Creamery near Lockerbie due to the closure of the packing unit and the confirmation that Young’s Seafood plan to close Pinneys of Annan with the loss of up to 700 direct permanents, seasonal and agency jobs.
Colin Smyth said, “The news that Graham’s & Son have gone into liquidation is yet another devastating blow for the area and my thoughts are very much with the workers affected. My fear is there could be further bad news on the way given how many other local businesses will be owed money by the company which they are very unlikely to get in full now that Graham’s has collapsed. The knock on impact of this latest jobs crisis could stretch beyond the company and that’s frankly the last thing the local economy needs at a time it is already in such a precarious position. A lack of investment and downright neglect by the U.K. and Scottish Governments in the local economy mean there are very few alternatives for those losing their jobs, yet both Governments are like rabbits caught in the headlines. They have no idea what to do about the jobs crisis facing the region and are letting the area down with such a lack of support to help existing businesses grow and to attract new ones “.
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