In the week that Port Services Group (PSG) revealed it had landed a five-year contract which has already created new jobs, local councillors raised the stakes on bold moves to see the town become the fresh focus of attention by supermarket giants vying to get a toe-hold in Easter Ross.

Paul Clark, the operations director of offshore logistical specialist PSG, said a deal with Wood Group North Sea (Engineering) Ltd has already created 15 new jobs, with the hope of more to follow.

It will see PSG supporting all the offshore platforms operated by Canadian company, Ithaca Energy.

Mr Clark claimed the contract is the first of its type for the Cromarty Firth and could herald other similar work coming into the area over the next few months.

The shore-based contract involves the provision of a variety of services including loading and unloading cargo, road transport and warehousing.

He said, "Our various companies have worked extremely hard over the past 12 months to win this contract and we are delighted to have secured long-term employment at Invergordon. We are also extremely happy to be utilising the excellent facilities on Admiralty Quay at Invergordon during the servicing period of the contract.

"Port Services has a long-standing relationship with the Bannerman Group of Tain and they have been extremely helpful with us to meet the challenges in carrying out this project."

The contract will support the Beatrice Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Jacky platforms.

Cromarty Firth councillor Maxine Smith said, "I am delighted that Port Services are doing so well and it is excellent news about the extra 15 jobs, as well as the promise of future work. This company continue to display experience and innovation in their approach and all I can say is 'keep up the good work'."

Meanwhile just over a year after the Journal first revealed the prospect of rivals Asda and Tesco considering Invergordon as an alternative to logjammed schemes for Tain, Councillor Smith said initial talks with senior council planners to discuss the possible location of a supermarket on land zoned for "special uses" had gone well.

In upbeat mood, Cllr Smith said that she was "confident the planning committee and councillors will make the right decision about where a supermarket should go".

While, planners are understood to have voiced a willingness to discuss the zoning matter "without prejudice", Easter Ross MSP Jamie Stone — who has recently met with Asda representatives — has also spoken of the prospect of other areas being considered. He said, "A great number of people in Tain and Easter Ross — and Sutherland too — would still warmly welcome Asda to the area.

They see the prospect of the arrival of Asda as offering not only much-needed local employment, but also as welcome competition to the supermarkets who have already established themselves in the north of Scotland.

"I stressed that in my own personal view the Tain area was still entirely viable; but if however they were minded to consider other local alternatives, then Asda should consider the wider Easter Ross area, or East Sutherland.

"I believe that my comments were taken on board. And that while for reasons of caution in the face of aggressive competition from other companies Asda were careful in their response, we still have a good chance of getting the company to come to this area."

Asda's property communications manager Lisa Rooke told the Journal the company is "aware of a desire for a new supermarket in Invergordon", adding, "We will be taking this into account when looking at new opportunities across the Highlands."

In February last year, following community calls for supermarkets to consider Invergordon as an alternative to Tain, an exclusive online Journal poll found a majority of respondents favouring the prospect of another major store in town.

editor@rsjournal.co.uk

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