UP TO 700 jobs will be won for Lockerbie if a New Zealand firm can be
persuaded to set up a factory there rather than in Wales.
Fortex, a meat processing company, has lodged plans for a #20m plant
at Priestdykes Farm, Lockerbie, with Dumfries and Galloway Regional
Council. However, a similar application has been made in Mid Wales.
The Lockerbie deal is backed by Dumfries and Galloway Enterprise and
Locate in Scotland.
Fortex exports lamb and venison to Europe from its two existing plants
in New Zealand. It identified 20 possible sites for a European base, but
the possibilities have now been whittled down to two.
A company spokesman said yesterday: ''We are currently considering all
the pros and cons of the sites at Priestdykes and in Mid Wales.
''Fortex is extremely sensitive to environmental concerns and
environmental controls would be very stringent in the proposed plant.
The company has, therefore, commissioned a detailed environmental impact
study for both sites to help establish the most suitable location.''
A decision on the site is expected in a few months.
Dumfries and Galloway Enterprise and Locate in Scotland are working on
a package to entice Fortex.
Mr Paul Pettigrew, chief executive of Dumfries and Galloway Enterprise
said: ''The proposals represent a major inward investment opportunity
for Southwest Scotland which would directly employ several hundred local
people and have significant positive knockon effects for local
communities, local farmers, and related agricultural services if the
firm comes to Priestdykes.''
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