Bungling ministers brag about a £43million wind power project that was shelved
Daily Record|David Clegg |December 30, 2012
A major UK Government report says more than 300 new jobs are set to be created in Dundee by a wind turbine company when in actual fact the deal was scrapped more than a year ago.
A major UK Government report says more than 300 new jobs are set to be created in Dundee by a wind turbine company when in actual fact the deal was scrapped more than a year ago.
A major UK Government report says more than 300 new jobs are set to be created in Dundee by a wind turbine company when in actual fact the deal was scrapped more than a year ago.
Bungling ministers have been caught bragging about a £43million wind power project for Scotland that was shelved.
The UK Government claimed in a major report - which was also approved by the SNP - that a Spanish firm were planning to open a wind turbine factory in Dundee and create 300 jobs.
But in fact, the company, Gamesa, abandoned their Dundee plans in late 2011 and chose to open the factory in Leith instead.
The blunder is an embarrassment for UK energy minister Ed Davey, and for his Scottish counterpart Fergus Ewing.
Both men are pictured in the …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]A major UK Government report says more than 300 new jobs are set to be created in Dundee by a wind turbine company when in actual fact the deal was scrapped more than a year ago.
Bungling ministers have been caught bragging about a £43million wind power project for Scotland that was shelved.
The UK Government claimed in a major report - which was also approved by the SNP - that a Spanish firm were planning to open a wind turbine factory in Dundee and create 300 jobs.
But in fact, the company, Gamesa, abandoned their Dundee plans in late 2011 and chose to open the factory in Leith instead.
The blunder is an embarrassment for UK energy minister Ed Davey, and for his Scottish counterpart Fergus Ewing.
Both men are pictured in the UK Renewable Energy Roadmap document, and approved its content.
The SNP vowed during last year's Holyrood election campaign to bring renewable energy jobs to Dundee. But 18 months on, no deals have been signed.
Scottish and Southern Energy have talked about wanting to open a major base in the city but the 700 jobs promised have yet to materialise.
Dundee Labour councillor Richard McCready said: "It was quite clear when Gamesa decided to go to Leith that there would be no spin-off for our city.
"We have a workforce ready to work and we have been promised jobs for some time. I urge the SNP to make good on their promises."
A spokeswoman at the UK Government's Department of Energy and Climate Change said the error in the report was "regrettable", but Scotland was a "powerhouse" for renewable energy.
The Scottish Government said Dundee was "ideally placed" to benefit from renewable energy jobs. A spokesman did not explain why Ewing signed off on the report when it contained a clear error.