Latest local news, sport, what's on, weather, travel from Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, South West

MP's offer of help `too late'

From the archive, first published Thursday 2nd Dec 2004.

Factory's first redundancies will become effective from Christmas Eve

THE future looks even bleaker for employees of British Fly Reels after an offer of help from Candy Atherton MP to try and keep the company in Falmouth was rejected by the management as too late.

The MP wrote to managing director Steve Broadstock on November 17 offering her assistance to seek a way out of the "current distressing situation" - nearly seven weeks after the closure was exclusively revealed in the Packet. In her letter Ms Atherton said her office had made "many attempts" to contact British Fly Reels without success and so she was writing to him to offer her assistance.

"If I can help in any way or if there is any way I could participate in a forum of local support organisations along the lines of an area action force to seek a way forward, then please be assured that I would be more than happy to do so," she said in her letter.

"I realise what a severe blow this must be to everyone involved, particularly at this time of year.

"That is why it is so important that every possible avenue is investigated to try and retain this important contributor to our local community and to ensure that the staff are fully supported at this difficult time."

But in his reply,, written the next day, Mr Broadstock said he appreciated her offer of help but at this stage he could see no opportunity to rescue the current business.

He said that BFR was in a period of prior consultation with elected employee representatives but so far no alternative to closure has been identified and, unless something changed, the first redundancies would become effective from Christmas Eve.

"The business has been under threat from foreign competition for some time and is no longer price competitive," he said in his letter.

"A Chinese businessman has made an offer to purchase all the machinery, tools and equipment from the parent company and this is now in the final stages of implementation. The building will be up for sale in the near future."

In a statement issued this week, Ms Atherton said it was clear that, although her interest in the company was welcomed, the management did not want to involve her in earlier negotiations because they did not want to offer false hope to the employees.

She had since spoken to Stephen Bohane, the regional development agency officer for Cornwall, about an area action force to work with staff.

"The area action force teams have a very good record in helping people with CVs, job interviews and re-training if they wish to pursue alternative careers," she said.

"Members of the workforce are very welcome to contact me individually on 01326 314440 if I can be of help."

Archive Home