A Million pound plus investment is being directed into Dumfries and Galloway to mitigate the effects of jobs losses caused by the closure of Chapelcross a former nuclear power plant.
‘Beyond Chapelcross’ is the project which is being financed through the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s (NDA) socio-economic fund, which is being aimed at helping to offset the anticipated loss of over 500 employees and contractors from the site at Annan by the time decommissioning is completed in 2017.
Chapelcross Site Stakeholder Group (SSG) chairman Councillor Ian Lindsay explained: “It’s something the SSG worked hard to get to this position, where we’re getting £1.2 million.”
Noting the declining workforce at Chapelcross, he added: “We’re obviously hoping that from this money we’re going to be able to provide some smaller companies with money to keep them going, and maybe to set up new organisations that will benefit the area.”
Despite the project which has emerged as a legacy from the closure of Chapelcross the investment is intended to benefit the whole of the region.
The Councillor went on to describe the investment as ‘hugely important’, noting the loss of highly-paid jobs at Chapelcross and the money spent in the area by those families.
In addition a further £2.5 million from the NDA socio-economic fund has already been pinpointed for three business development areas in Gretna, Lockerbie and Annan, with a site now established in Kirtle Place in Gretna and another earmarked in Annan.
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