The hundreds of refinery workers losing their jobs at Grangemouth this year will have found little comfort in a long-awaited report published yesterday.
Project Willow was commissioned by the UK and Scottish governments to examine what the future might look like for Scotland’s largest industrial site.
It sets out nine options for what could be done. But none of them come cheap and would take at least five years to implement.
All of them rely on securing billions of pounds of private investment. In the current climate, that could prove very difficult.
John Swinney attempted to put a brave face on the report when he visited the town yesterday. He insisted investment could be secured from the private sector to give Grangemouth a new direction.
While we hope he is proved right, refinery workers must be wondering what is being done to save their jobs.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, described Project Willow as little more than a “fig leaf”.
Her union, which represents Grangemouth workers, is firmly in favour of one of the nine options identified in particular.
That would see Grangemouth produce sustainable aviation fuel – but it would require up to £2.1billion in private investment and operation would not begin until 2035.
Unite wants to see work begin as soon as possible – which could keep well paid engineering jobs in the area.
Most workers on the site would like to see immediate government intervention to keep the oil refinery open – at least until other longer term projects start to create jobs.
Weeks away from closure, action must be taken now to protect the loss of this vital part of Scotland’s industrial landscape.
Bring him home
Young Royal Navy sailor Owen Haggerty is behind bars in Bahrain after innocently being caught up in a street incident during his first deployment.
His mum Kirsty Reynolds told the Record the “kind and bright” 22-year-old was trying to help the victim when police seized him at the scene last month.
He had been held in a detention centre until yesterday, when a judge ordered he should serve three months in jail.
His distraught mum says the decision was made in seconds and vital evidence for Owen’s defence ignored.
As concerns grow for Owen’s welfare, politicians and naval chiefs need to ensure this young seaman and his family receive the urgent help they need.
He can’t be allowed to languish in a foreign jail.