JOBS are set to be lost at Barrhead Travel with the company unable to rule out whether staff in Dunfermline could be let go.

The holiday firm has a branch at Duloch Park and Barrhead announced recently that they would be "making the redundancies across a number of areas in the business and locations across our network".

The Press asked if the Duloch shop would be affected but the firm said they could not comment on individual or specific locations.

However, Jacqueline Dobson, president of Barrhead Travel, said: “In common with many others in our industry, we are having to make difficult decisions as a direct result of the impact of COVID-19 on holidays.

“Customer confidence has been dented by the ongoing uncertainty surrounding quarantine and travel restrictions. This, combined with the imminent closure of the furlough scheme, means we have had to announce a number of redundancies.

“We will be ensuring that there is full support available for all our colleagues – personally and professionally – over the coming months.”

The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) has appealed to Barrhead Travel to work with the trade union to avoid job losses after it began consultations with staff to "become leaner" due to the impact of COVID-19 on the travel trade.

Manuel Cortes, TSSA general secretary, called for discussions to find a way forward, urging the Scottish Government and Westminster to “step up and save jobs.”

Cortes said: “I appeal to Barrhead Travel to work with us to save jobs and not throw the baby out with the bath water.

"We need to come together with the Scottish Government to agree a plan for our travel trade which will not only prevent job losses at Barrhead but across the sector.

“High streets in Scotland are beginning to open and there will be a hunger to make holiday plans. I recognise how hard the coronavirus crisis has been for our travel trade and our members, right across Britain.

“However, we can all find a positive way forward if Holyrood is prepared to step up and save jobs – while setting a good example to ministers in London.

“It’s said Nicola Sturgeon has had a good crisis – well the SNP would do well to consider how they can help those whose jobs are under threat. That is a true test of government.”