REGARDING Saturday’s Greenock Telegraph front page on the collapse of Marine Decommissioning Services Ltd, we note with incredulity the statements from our leading politicians.

Councillor Stephen McCabe’s 'it wasn’t me it was Peel' assertion completely ignored the fact that no jobs were created, then bizarrely applauded the fact there were no redundancies and comes from someone who is now a company director in the joint venture with Peel Ports ‘Inchgreen Marine Park Ltd’.

A company that’s spending £10.6m of our money and to date has produced nothing, has attracted no companies, work or jobs for Inchgreen.

Then our MSP Stuart McMillan offered the excuse that 'they (Atlas) were the only show in town'.

A comment made although fully aware, as was Councillor McCabe, that Dales Marine had made a substantial offer to Peel Ports for the lease of Inchgreen dry dock weeks before the Atlas announcement. This offer was rejected by Peel Ports. Not one local politician contacted Dales to offer support and challenge Peel Ports rejection, a complete collective failure.

These two leading politicians are joint chair of the Inverclyde Taskforce, with no positive outcomes in 18 months. Presumably this is just another talking shop with suitable delaying tactics built-in?

Both have been in position for almost 17 years yet we top the leagues in depopulation, deprivation and poverty and our industrial regeneration has stagnated.

We believe we should be maximising the use and potential of our industrial facilities in providing work and skilled jobs for our community. Our people would prefer to work their way out of the current difficulties, thereby creating a prosperous future. A future certainly not built around seeking handouts. As it stands we see no significant movement that will change our current demise.

 

Robert Buirds

Campaign to Save Inchgreen Dry Dock