Glazing firm boss calls for Scotland to let work in homes resume, in line with England and Wales

The boss of a Perth-based glazing firm has criticised the Scottish government for continuing to prevent work being completed in homes, unlike in England and Wales – resulting in a £1 million loss of orders for the firm.

Balhousie Windows, a supplier of windows, doors, home extensions and conservatories, said the rule – which excludes essential maintenance – means it cannot take on new work, and it has 30 staff (most of its workforce) currently furloughed.

Director Drew Hay is urging Holyrood to lift the regulations that are “causing the sector so much unnecessary pain” and allow Covid-secure work so new projects can be started and existing jobs completed.

He said: “We find ourselves in a really frustrating position in that our online leads are 94 per cent up on this time last year, but we can’t progress any of them due to the current Scottish restrictions.

The Perth firm is calling for restrictions to be lifted immediately. Picture: contributed.

“The restrictions need to be lifted immediately to allow Scottish home improvement businesses to fit existing jobs, collect outstanding monies and to capitalise on new sales to support our recovery.

“We can’t see a justified explanation as to why the Scottish rules are different and, if things don’t change, we’ll be left in limbo until the end of April at the earliest.”

Balhousie, which was established in 1993, recently applied for a discretionary grant to help it keep going. Mr Hay added: “We’ll continue to work with the Glass & Glazing Federation to see if we can instigate change – and would appreciate it if even more Scottish consumers write to their MPs to highlight the disparity in the rules.”

'If things don’t change, we’ll be left in limbo until the end of April at the earliest,' says director Drew Hay. Picture: contributed.

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