Published: Thursday, 18th June, 2009 9:05am
Hyundai grant could pave way for 372 new jobs for city
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JOB hopes for the former Hyundai site in Dunfermline have received a boost through a £10 million grant from the Scottish Government.
The application for regional selective assistance from the U.S. solar panel manufacturer Zoom has been approved but the firm has still to purchase the site from the current owner Freescale.
If the plans go ahead, 372 jobs would be created at the Halbeath site but the mood of local politicians remains one of cautious optimism.
This is hardly surprising given the huge jobs promises in the past from Hyundai and Motorola which came to nothing.
Councillor Tony Martin, Fife"s enterprise chair, said, 'I spoke to John Swinney (Scottish finance minister) this week and he sounded positive about the prospects. That is also the position of Fife Council. We will help in any way we can.'
Lib Dem MSP Jim Tolson said, 'I"m cautiously optimistic that these jobs will come to Dunfermline.'
Labour MSP John Park said, 'We all hope these jobs materialise but we"ve had so many false dawns in the past that people in Dunfermline will believe it when they see it.'
The Press revealed last summer that Zoom Diversified, based in California, were engaged in talks over taking over the plant.
All parties involved remain tight-lipped but it is understood there is widespread dismay about the slow progress of the project.
The company would be manufacturing solar panels and in the past it has been anticipated that between 600 and 1000 jobs could eventually be created.
A subsidiary company Kingdom Solar has been set up by Zoom to carry through their West Fife ambitions.
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RonE
(Unregistered User)
Jun 18 09 12:21
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Here we go again. Another £10 million in grants pumped into this white elephant.
What's the betting the company sets up at no cost to themselves then withdraws in a couple of years when the grant period ends.
Sorry to seem so negative but it's happened so many times in the past
Ian Robertson
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Jun 23 09 10:46
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Absolutely right RonE. Does it not occur to any of these politicians and councillors who are so free with our money that this is not an ideal location for economic manufacture of hi-tech electronics (which is why everyone else has gone away)? Sure they'll come if you pay them enough and then go away when you stop.
Peter
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Jul 2 09 13:41
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.................and your point is?
If it isn't the SDA then you can guarantee that another development agency in the EC will offer funding. I'd rather be in a position to offer them the grants and should their manufacturing become a success then they are more likely to hang around and develop their operations. I don't know anything about solar panel manufacturing but assuming that it requires a skilled workforce then that can only be a good thing for the area. Renewable energy is most definatley the way to go and could attract other comapnies to the region. Let's not be too negative about an opportunity to see several 100 new jobs created!
Peter
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Jul 2 09 14:34
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.................and your point is?
If it isn't the SDA then you can guarantee that another development agency in the EC will offer funding. I'd rather be in a position to offer them the grants and should their manufacturing become a success then they are more likely to hang around and develop their operations. I don't know anything about solar panel manufacturing but assuming that it requires a skilled workforce then that can only be a good thing for the area. Renewable energy is most definatley the way to go and could attract other comapnies to the region. Let's not be too negative about an opportunity to see several 100 new jobs created!
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