Hope hi-tech firm will fill the Ethicon void

Published on 30/05/2003 01:00

CITY chiefs are set to launch a bid to attract a hi-tech company to fill the void at Ethicon’s Sighthill base.

Local councillor Frank Russell today pledged to work with council and business leaders to entice another company to the eight-acre main site, which is owned by Ethicon.

He stressed that while it was still "early days", he believed the Ethicon site was suitable for a hi-tech company.

He said: "It is a fairly large site. It would be perfect for a hi-tech company. The city will work with Scottish Enterprise to try to attract a hi-tech company. That is the sort of employers we need around here."

Mr Russell, whose wife worked on the twilight shift at the factory two decades ago, added: "This site will not be difficult to market. The west is booming and access is fine.

"Scottish Enterprise has vast experience and success with this sort of thing."

But Mr Russell admitted the loss of the company was a huge blow to the community.

He said: "It is a big blow to the west side of the city and to West Lothian. They are a big employer of woman, woman with children.

"Our first priority is to ensure we get employment for those who have lost jobs. It was a well-known local employer.

"I had heard nothing. This is a total shock and a blow to the community. People are devastated."