By Chris Story

Last updated at 12:03, Wednesday, 23 July 2008

Talks are due to take place today after a textiles dyeing company went into administration with the loss of 62 jobs.

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Staff at the Langholm Dyeing Company have been issued with immediate redundancy notices with the company unable to cope with the difficult conditions dogging the textiles industry.

The firm was one of the town’s major employers and there are now severe concerns about the economic fallout from the job losses.

A total of 52 staff were issued with redundancy notices on Friday with a further 10 retained to help with winding up proceedings. It is, however, understood that those jobs will also eventually go.

Administrators have begun advertising the firm as a business for sale.

Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell has demanded action to help affected workers.

He said: “The loss of up to 65 jobs in Langholm is the equivalent of the loss of hundreds of jobs in Scotland’s central belt and we need the same proportion of response.

“We have been lucky in Langholm in the past that when there have been job losses, people have been able to get other work.

“But we are now in much more difficult economic circumstances and that is why I am already in talks with Scottish Enterprise and Dumfries and Galloway Council.’’

Dumfries MSP Elaine Murray has vowed to raise the job losses with in the Scottish Parliament to see what support can be given.

Employee numbers at Dyeing Company, based at Waterside Mills, had fallen in recent years as the climate in the textiles industry became more challenging.

Parties involved in dealing with the aftermath of the jobs blow are due to meet today.

Mr Mundell said: “From my point of view, the purpose of that meeting is to ensure everything possible is being done for those people who have already been made redundant.

“My thoughts are with those who have lost their jobs and their families at this difficult time, because I also know that a lot of people have worked there for a long time and, unfortunately, the statutory redundancy doesn’t cover such long service.”

Businesses in Langholm say they are already struggling since a landslip on the A7 road – the main artery running through the town linking Carlisle with the Scottish Borders – a fortnight ago.

A section of the road has been closed since, but it is hoped that it will partially reopen in time for the town’s Common Riding on Friday.

In February, Apex Textiles – the firm behind the buy-out of Carlisle’s Stead McAlpin Factory from the John Lewis Partnership last year – bought Galashiels-based Schofield Dyers and Finishers from the Langholm Dyeing Company.

Apex said it bought the plant for “its prestige dyeing and finishing capabilities (which serve) exclusive markets both in the UK and overseas”.

CStory@cngroup.co.uk

First published at 11:46, Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk