70 JOBS SAVED AT LONGTOWN AND DUMFRIES MARKETS
Written by author on August 27, 2015
THERE’S good news for the 70 staff at the Longtown and Dumfries markets after a month of waiting for news.
All 70 full and part-time jobs have been saved after Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart was sold to newly established company C & D Auction Marts Ltd and one of Scotland’s oldest auction firms, Thomson, Roddick & Laurie Ltd.
The two markets at Longtown and Dumfries which are operated by the company have been trading as normal under their new ownership.
Under the deal C & D Rural is set to be relocated to new offices at the Longtown Mart.
John Thomson, a director of Thomson, Roddick & Laurie, who will be leading the new company with his brother Stuart, said: “We are delighted to have acquired the C & D business which provides a vital livestock auctioneering and land agency facility to the farming community.
“We will be busy from day one continuing and further developing the busy sales programme with the help of the existing staff team and we will, of course, be working hard to ensure that we continue to enjoy the support of the agricultural community.”
Russell Cash, joint administrator and partner at FRP Advisory LLP, described the deal as a great result for the farming communities in the Borders as it preserves a fully-resourced local livestock auctioneering business and secures a large number of rural jobs.”
He added: “The new owners have been hugely supportive and we wish them every success with their plans to develop the business.”
Longtown Mart which was founded in 1926, clames to be Europe’s largest sheep market
Police are believed to be involved with the on-going investigating into financial irregularities that came to light in July. Ccompany secretary at the time, Malcolm Bendle was suspended and has since resigned.
