By Cheryl Wood

MORE THAN 30 people at two Cupar workplaces are facing redundancy as a result of closure and relocation.

Nationwide Crash Repair is closing its branch in the town, while In-Site Property Solutions is proposing to shift its head office to Yorkshire.

The 22 employees at Nationwide, in the town’s Front Lebanon, were offered transfers to the firm’s other branches at Dunfermline and Dundee.

However, it is understood all are looking for jobs elsewhere ahead of the closure scheduled for March 9.

General manager of the branch George Sharp said morale was very low among the staff.

He said, “Some of them have been here for 20 or 30 years.

“It’s like a home from home.”

Mr Sharp said he had worked there since 1972, when the garage was first opened by Donald Heggie.

It was bought over by Nationwide Crash Repair in 1998.

It is understood the firm had decided not to reinvest in the premises. However, no one from its head office was available to comment.

The 10 members of staff at In-Site Property Solutions, in Cupar Trading Estate, were informed on Tuesday they could be made redundant.

A handful of mobile workers could also be affected.

Consultation on the relocation proposal is now under way and is expected to continue through this month and next.

One employee told The Courier, “It looks like everyone is out of a job.

“It’s a sad day. Some people have been here over 20 years.”

It was In-Site Property Solutions, originally Industrial Estates (Scotland) Ltd, which developed Cupar Trading Estate in 1973.

The firm, which redevelops disused factories, has had its headquarters there since then.

Chairman Nigel Jarrett said it hoped to find alternative employment for some staff, within or outwith the company, and was looking for voluntary redundancies.

He said the headquarters were being relocated for economic and strategic reasons.

He added, “The consultation process will take as long as it takes to explore every possible avenue of securing employment for the members of staff.

“We have a long association with Cupar. The company has been based there for 30 years.”

He said the move out of the town was with great regret. “The decision has not been taken lightly.”