Brechin jobs blow as abattoir is mothballed
Brechin has been dealt another jobs blow with closure of the abattoir on the eastern outskirts of the burgh.
- By Liz Fowler
- Published in the Courier : 12.08.10
- Published online : 12.08.10 @ 10.08am
As shocked employees were served with their redundancy notices, operators Matheson Jess said the plant would be mothballed for the foreseeable future.
It is understood the firm has recently invested millions of pounds upgrading the plant. But managing director Alan Jess said there was no choice but to pull the plug because of a severe downturn in business.
He said, "We are sorry it has come to this. We had a well-trained, dedicated and loyal staff who have been with the company for many years, some all their working lives. This has been an extremely difficult and sad decision to make."
There were 11 employees at the abattoir. Along with an adjacent incinerator, it was part of a meat rendering plant operated by A. P. Jess Environmental Ltd.
The decision to shut it down follows the closure of the incinerator in March.
The plant has been a cause of long-running hostility from townspeople complaining of foul emissions.
A health and safety breach in 2007 which saw two workers exposed to a potentially deadly gas resulted in a fine of £12,000.
In 2007-2008, more than 200 complaints a year were received by SEPA relating to malodours. People also complained of nausea brought on by the bad smell.
Complaints
Though the plant was given a clean bill of health a month ago in a report commissioned by SEPA, complaints about foul smells from the abattoir persisted.
However the HONK protest group last night was tight-lipped over the job losses. Chairwoman Caroline Monro said, "We are making no comment. We are compiling a report and may have something to say in a day or so."
A dozen employees were made redundant when the incinerator was mothballed.
"Due to extreme trading conditions Matheson Jess have taken the decision to close the abattoir," said Mr Jess.
"This decision has not been taken lightly and was decided only after 18 months of trying to increase the throughput."
The A. P. Jess Group bought the abattoir from the Matheson family in December 1995. Following the BSE outbreak in cattle in Britain in 1996 it was dedicated to a scheme designed to remove older animals deemed unfit for the food chain.
The abattoir operated for 12 years under a government contract to slaughter cattle over 30 months old, but that ended in late 2008.
Human consumption
The firm has since spent hundreds of thousands of pounds upgrading the abattoir to meet standards for supplying meat for human consumption. It also appointed agents in several European countries to try and break into the export market.
"We have made it one of the best small abattoirs in the UK," said Mr Jess. "But it will be run on a care and maintenance basis and it is hoped that if market conditions improve, it may be reopened."
Angus provost, Ruth Leslie Melville, a Brechin councillor, said, "The abattoir is not closed forever hopefully. I think the company has ploughed between £4 million and £5 million in to bring it up to the very highest hygiene standards to enable them to put animals through to the food chain.
"They don't want all this money wasted. It is very sad 11 people have been paid off.
"But I understand they are looking for a short-term let of the premises. We have to stress this plant is being mothballed, not closed. A. P. Jess is looking to come back and re-open and I am keen to work with them to make that happen.
"I am optimistic that as soon as there is an upturn in the market, they will be back. The last thing we want to lose is the abattoir. It has been a very good employer."
Brechin councillor Mairi Evans added, "This is another jobs blow for Brechin. It was a surprise to me. It was not something I was expecting to happen.
"Local people have been working with the management of the plant and SEPA to resolve problem issues and it's a shame it has come to this."
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