Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has called on the Scottish Government to intervene in the TalkTalk proposals for the transfer of its Stornoway operation to Manchester with the loss of 59 local jobs.
The comhairle has written to Paul Wheelhouse, minister for energy and connectivity and the islands, stating: ‘Given the fragility of the local economy and the detrimental impacts these losses will have, are there any additional and specific supports that the Scottish Government can offer?’ Councillor Donald Crichton, chairman of the sustainable development committee, said: ‘This is a significant blow to the economy of the Western Isles.
‘Our immediate thoughts are with the employees of the company and their families and we will play whatever role we can in supporting them.