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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Hundreds' attend mill protests | 'Hundreds' attend mill protests |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| More than 300 people have taken part in a protest march and rally involving workers at a historic Fife paper mill which has ceased production. | More than 300 people have taken part in a protest march and rally involving workers at a historic Fife paper mill which has ceased production. |
| Redundancy notices were issued to 180 staff at Curtis Mill in Guardbridge, when management called in administrators last week. | Redundancy notices were issued to 180 staff at Curtis Mill in Guardbridge, when management called in administrators last week. |
| The march and rally, which began in St Andrews, was led by the company's former managing director Keith Chapman. | The march and rally, which began in St Andrews, was led by the company's former managing director Keith Chapman. |
| He said about 350 people, including local politicians, attended the event. | |
| They included MSPs Iain Smith of the Lib Dems, Conservative Ted Brocklebank and Labour's Claire Baker. | They included MSPs Iain Smith of the Lib Dems, Conservative Ted Brocklebank and Labour's Claire Baker. |
| The company closed down immediately after the accountants were called in. | The company closed down immediately after the accountants were called in. |
| Curtis has operated a paper mill in north east Fife for 135 years but had been experiencing problems securing credit from the banks. | Curtis has operated a paper mill in north east Fife for 135 years but had been experiencing problems securing credit from the banks. |
| I don't want to offer false hope to anybody but there is probably about a 30% chance of the mill being bought Keith ChapmanFormer managing director Efforts are being made to try to sell the business as a going concern with 80 staff being kept on for the time being. | I don't want to offer false hope to anybody but there is probably about a 30% chance of the mill being bought Keith ChapmanFormer managing director Efforts are being made to try to sell the business as a going concern with 80 staff being kept on for the time being. |
| Finance Secretary John Swinney has met local politicians to offer his support for the plant. | Finance Secretary John Swinney has met local politicians to offer his support for the plant. |
| The march, from West Sands to Madras College, began at about midday. | The march, from West Sands to Madras College, began at about midday. |
| Mr Chapman told the BBC Scotland news website the protest also provided an opportunity for local politicians to explain what they had been doing to help. | Mr Chapman told the BBC Scotland news website the protest also provided an opportunity for local politicians to explain what they had been doing to help. |
| Talks are still under way with several potential buyers, with the outcome expected to become clearer over the next week. | Talks are still under way with several potential buyers, with the outcome expected to become clearer over the next week. |
| "I don't want to offer false hope to anybody but there is probably about a 30% chance of the mill being bought," Mr Chapman said. | "I don't want to offer false hope to anybody but there is probably about a 30% chance of the mill being bought," Mr Chapman said. |
| He said that if those talks were to prove positive, the new owners would need to take at least 100 of the staff back on to return to full production. | He said that if those talks were to prove positive, the new owners would need to take at least 100 of the staff back on to return to full production. |