The Angus economy has been dealt another hammer blow with the collapse of a long-established Forfar firm the second plumbing business in the district to fold within a week.
Confirmation of the closure of Skene Blair came on Wenesday, and the loss of a company founded in the town more than 80 years ago has been received with sadness.
The Forfar shutdown with the loss of around 10 jobs comes hard on the heels of liquidators being called into Arbroath heating and plumbing company CMS, which employed almost 40 people on domestic and trade contracts in the east of Scotland.
In each situation the affected firms have said that they were unable to sustain operations as a result of not being paid for work done.
For a number of years, Skene Blair has operated from a unit at Forfar’s Station Place, having moved there from the centre of town, where the earlier name of Skene Blair & Son was a permanent fixture on several different premises in East High Street from its foundations in 1937.
Long-serving employees Angus Smith and Ian Steven took over the business several years ago following the retiral of former owner Ron Blair.
Mr Smith confirmed to The Courier that the firm had closed but said he did not want to make further comment on the circumstances, adding that several matters were still being dealt with.
“Money was due in we are just gutted at the way this has happened,” said the director.WorryingForfar councillor Glennis Middleton said the news was a “very worrying development for Angus.”
She said, “For a second company in the same line of business to cease trading is, I think, an indication of the very difficult times we are in. Unfortunately, they may get worse.”
Mrs Middleton added, “Cashflow is difficult for every business in this economic climate but if local firms like Skene Blair and CMS are not paid on time, then the knock-on effect simply becomes a vicious circle.
“If firms like these are not paid they are affected, their suppliers and other businesses in the area are affected and then, ultimately, people lose their jobs and there is less money coming into local households to spend locally.
“It’s a dreadful situation and terrible that a long-standing Forfar company has suffered in this way.”
Fellow Forfar councillor Colin Brown added, “This is very bad news which Forfar and Angus could well do without. We’ve seen the impact which the collapse of a larger firm can have on smaller businesses and sadly that is now going to be felt in more households in Angus.
“This firm has been part of Forfar’s fabric for more than 80 years and it was well known to generations. The directors of the company have been with it for many, many years and it is terrible for them, and all of the staff, that it has come to this.”
Photo by Flickr user Elsie esq.