The Scottish Government was last night accused of leaving Fraserburgh “out in the cold” after dismissing an idea to boost the town.
Fish processing giant Young’s Seafood announced earlier this year it was closing its operation in the town, threatening nearly 1,000 workers with Christmas redundancies.
But after prolonged local pressure, the firm scaled back its restructuring plans and guaranteed the Watermill Road factory will remain open.
However, hundreds of staff will still be made redundant.
Now local councillor Ian Tait – who fears the economic impact on the town could prove fatal – has written to Business Minister Fergus Ewing, calling on the government to designate the fishing port as the country’s latest official enterprise area.
The scheme already provides business rates relief and a streamlined planning process for firms inside 15 zones across Scotland.
In an open letter to Mr Ewing, Mr Tait said: “Following the disastrous and disgraceful redundancies in Young’s Seafood here in Fraserburgh, I would urge you to declare Fraserburgh and District an enterprise zone.
“This would allow Fraserburgh to benefit from inward investment free of the usual restrictions, and also give rates relief to local businesses thereby helping them to remain profitable.”
Mr Tait also claims the town has been ignored long enough, adding Fraserburgh was overlooked when the Energetica corridor was earmarked between Peterhead and Aberdeen.
“The Scottish Government has left Fraserburgh out in the cold,” Mr Tait adds. “This is the time for your government to rectify that error.”
But Mr Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, has all but ruled out granted the beleaguered town enterprise status.
“While we are willing to consider the case for additional enterprise area locations where it can be demonstrated that they would help unlock the opportunities in a particular area, they may not always be the most effective option to stimulate jobs and growth” he said.
And although full of praise for Mr Tait’s idea, local SNP politicians backed Mr Ewing’s stance on the matter last night.
Fraserburgh councillor Charles Buchan, who chairs the council’s fisheries committee, said that, despite the uncertain future facing the town, Fraserburgh and the surrounding area are “not deprived enough” to qualify for enterprise status and that Mr Tait’s plan is “not realisable”.
But he added: “I looked into this and I’d love an enterprise zone. I congratulate Ian Tait for putting his efforts into this.”
Instead of the enterprise zone, he said work is ongoing behind the scenes take advantage of the fish processing skills on offer in the town.
Banffshire and Buchan Coast’s SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson added: “The Scottish Government is working hard to support our community.
“The specific steps have to be within the Scottish Parliament’s powers, EU State Aid rules and the constraints of permitted support for fishing industries.”