'Hope remains' for BlindCraft

Councillor Paul Edie is due to attend crisis talks organised by Enterprise Minister Jim Mather on November 9 - just over a week before the Craigmillar bed manufacturer's fate will be decided by councillors.

He said the city council was prepared to listen to any "other way forward" proposed by the Scottish Government, which stepped in to save a similar factory in Aberdeen last year.

Council officials insist that it is "business as usual" for the firm until a decision is made - with a four-year 1 million contract to provide it with materials advertised this week.

The council is nearing the end of a 30-day consultation on two options: completely closing down the factory, which employs 70 people - around half of whom are blind or disabled - or to turn it into a "training model", which would also dramatically reduce the number of staff it employs.

Cllr Edie said: "We have a 30-day consultation ongoing and a meeting with the minister on November 9 to discuss this..

"I have not seen the results of the consultation and I would be loathe to comment on that until we get back that feedback. It is a council decision, not one that I make on my own, and I will not pre-judge that outcome.

"We will hold off the report (by council officials] to committee until after the meeting with the minister. If the minister comes up with some other way forward to assist then we are all ears."

The Scottish Government previously linked up with an oil company to provide a rescue package for Aberdeen-based Glencraft - a similar operation to BlindCraft - after the company was liquidated last year.

The new 1m materials contract advertised by the council this week would cover the next three years, with the option of a fourth. However, it is understood that there is a clause that will allow the contract to be withdrawn if a decision is taken next month to close the factory.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, health spokeswoman for Labour on the council, said: "I was glad Jim Mather took the initiative of calling people around a table but why did Paul Edie not do that in February of this year?

"The option of closure is wrong and the training option has not been thought through properly either. I wonder if all the options are being considered properly."A council spokesman said: "Consultation with staff and trade unions is ongoing and a report regarding the future of BlindCraft will be discussed at full council next month."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Blindcraft's future is a matter for Edinburgh Council. However, in response to concerns expressed during a recent parliamentary debate, the minister agreed to facilitate a meeting of key stakeholders."