Published: Thursday, 15th May, 2008 09:00
US firm looks to create 1000 jobs
By Gary Fitzpatrick
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AN AMERICAN firm is poised to take over the former Hyundai/Motorola plant in Halbeath and could create up to 1000 jobs.
Top-level talks are at an advanced stage and a deal for the manufacturing site could be struck within the next few weeks.
It is understood a delegation from the West Coast company has visited the area and was welcomed by Fife’s Provost Frances Melville.
Everyone involved in the talks is keen that the company should not be identified until the deal is finalised.
The Press reported last week that a preferred bidder had been chosen and that the ‘due diligence’ process was under way.
Millions of pounds of public money were spent preparing the site over the years and any future proposals are sure to be closely scrutinised.
The grand plans and job promises of Hyundai then later Motorola came to nothing and the huge plant has been lying unused since it was completed in 1999.
Everyone in West Fife is now hoping it’s a case of third time lucky and that the long-promised jobs – first announced at a Tory Party conference back in 1996 – will finally materialise.
Local councillor Mike Rumney said, “As far as I can find out negotiations are at a crucial stage. Nobody but nobody will come up with the name of the preferred bidder.
“We’re told they are hopeful there could be news in the next couple of weeks but things are very confidential.
“Local councillors have not been given the name as we’re told this is a sensitive issue with the company.”
MP Willie Rennie was reluctant to comment but said there could be a positive outcome for West Fife.
Councillor Alex Rowley, who was Fife Council leader at the time of the Hyundai plans, welcomed the news that at last jobs could be coming to Halbeath.
He said, “It was devastating when Hyundai fell through after the hopes we had at the time.
“The high number of jobs for local people, the link-up with the colleges, it was all lost by a downturn in market conditions on the other side of the world.
“I met with the Koreans early on and they were worried about the planning process causing them problems and worried about this and that.
“It could be argued we moved mountains to accommodate them but we had no control when things went wrong.
“It was my first experience of the global economy and devastating at the time.
“The fact that the economy of Dunfermline has recovered so well since is down to a lot of hard work put in to attract investment.
“I think because of the site’s history there may be some scepticism from local people if they hear another company’s coming in and many jobs are promised.
“Given that this will be a multi-million pound project, there has to be commercial confidentiality involved but let’s wait and see what is being proposed.
“If it does turns out that new good-quality jobs are coming to this area then everyone will be delighted.”
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