I think this Press Release from the Council is worthy of posting on my blog. Almost precisely what was discussed between the ex-workers and the Council leadership on 17th August:
"MP and Council tell SEEDA: apply stringent conditions to Vestas
The Island's MP and the Isle of Wight Council Leader have called for safeguards to be put in place to ensure that a brand new Vestas facility, to be supported with substantial public money, provides long-term benefits to the local economy.
On behalf of the Island community, Andrew Turner MP and Cllr David Pugh have written to the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), requesting that the site of the recently closed manufacturing plant at St Cross be released by Vestas before public money is used to support their new Research & Development facility at Stag Lane, which is currently owned by SEEDA.
The letter follows final confirmation that Vestas is to close its UK production facilities at St Cross - with a loss of over 400 jobs on the Island.
Mr Turner and Cllr Pugh also urge SEEDA and the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to ensure that their proposed £6m grant funding to Vestas will be subject to appropriate conditions, to demonstrate that this public investment would be to the long-term benefit of the Island's economy.
Their letter to SEEDA Chief Executive Pam Alexander states: "We are increasingly concerned at the lack of jobs available for the highly skilled workforce which has been made redundant.
"Whilst we welcome the proposed jobs for the R&D facility at Stag Lane, we are concerned that Vestas appear reluctant to release the St Cross site for alternative use.
"There are a number of firms interested in expanding renewable energy technology on the Island and we consider that the vacated St Cross premises offer potential for the location of this work, with the possibility of providing alternative employment for the redundant workers, which is something we all want to achieve."
The MP and the council also highlight the shortage of wharves on the Island available for current and future economic development. Under current plans Vestas will have use - in some cases exclusive use - of three of only five sites on the River Medina capable of handling seagoing cargos when the Stag Lane site is complete.
"We consider that there is an urgent need to review the availability of wharves and we are keen to explore with SEEDA how to best secure their long-term accessibility for the benefit of the Island's economy, rather than a single company," the letter states.
"There is a real danger that Vestas may wish to hold their present sites, with associated wharves, to the exclusion of others, while their activities are reduced to a token presence providing only limited employment. This would be inappropriate given the considerable investment from public funds that has gone into both sites."
The MP and the council call on SEEDA to consider a right of way for general use from Stag Lane to the Cement Mills wharf, and to consider a similar set-up for their land at Venture Quays (East Cowes), which is also currently used by Vestas.
On the issue of the proposed £6m investment, the letter states: "We would welcome the public announcement of certain key conditions of the public investment, such as the number of jobs that will be created and outline details about any clawback conditions."
The council and Island MP have requested a meeting with SEEDA to discuss their concerns in advance of the terms for the Stag Lane facility being finalised."
The Council acting, incontrovertibly for once, in the interests of the entire Island community. Well done !
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