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Wednesday, October 15, 2008 50p

Local musician success

FREESCALE
PLANT TO CUT
800
JOBS
East Kilbride
plant closure causes concern
JOB CUTS: 800 jobs will go from the Freescale Semiconducter plant in East Kilbride

By Andrew Morrison
A SHOCKIG 800 South La-
narkshire workers have lost
their jobs after a factory
owned by computer chip com-
pany Freescale closed down.
The factory, built in 1969 by
difficulties for two years due to
lack of demand for their
products in East Kilbride and
had been looking to sell
ownership of the factory in order
to prevent job losses. Factory-
selling specialists Arteg had
been drafted in to find a buyer.
After over a year of
unsuccessfully trying to find a
yesterday. Production is
expected to end in mid 2009 and
800 workers have already lost
their jobs.
In a recent statement a
company spokesman said that
the company where already
holding meetings with affected
employees to help them find
new jobs.
provide the best possible support
to employees who are facing
redundancy next year and an
extensive outplacement service
will be made available to all
affected employees.”
East Kilbride council
member Anne Meggs said that
“We knew that the factory had
been struggling to find a buyer
scarce for them.” She said: “It’s
great that the company is
offering help to those that have
been affected and obviously the
council will be offering any help
that it can.”
Alex Salmond yesterday
appealed to the government for
aid for the 800 who lost their
jobs.

Sport
Motorola, had faced fiscal buyer the factory closed “The company’s priority is to and that money was becoming

Accies reserves defeated by Falkirk

TURN TO PAGE 2
 Editors
Letter
ROADWORKS MISERY
Resurfacing The work, which started nine days

UEMPLOYMET figures in the
UK have risen by almost six percent
in the last year and Britain’s
workforce is facing its worst crisis
since the early nineties.
With over 800 jobs set to be lost in
East Kilbride following the closure of
computer chip company Freescale,
something must be done to avoid any
more families being put at risk.
The Freescale factory closure
for roads
By Jennifer Lilley
COMMUTERS in Hamilton have been
majorly disrupted by the A723 road-
works.
Thousands of peoples days have been
ago, is expected to last another two weeks.
A spokesman for the council said:
“The work has been done over-night to try
to prevent any disruption.
The 30mph speed limit has also been
enforced to reduce disruption and keep
things moving.”
He added: “We apologise again and
would like to thank the public for their
patience and co-operation.”
With a whopping 36,000-plus vehicles
using this route each day, delays should
still be expected.
Transport Scotland are funding the

BUS COMPANY SLATED

brings back unfortunate memories of disrupted as the dual-carriageway
the days of Ravenscraig and the undergoes re-surfacing. £755,000 project. DISRUPTION: Delays on the A723
former Motorola plant. The hardship
that these closures brought to the
surrounding towns was something we

AS UNRELIABLE
should not have to face again.
The government figures of
unemployment in our country are
startling. Financial pressure is hitting
home and the prospect of further
closures, resulting in greater
unemployment, is something that
simply cannot happen.

Number 13
The government is looking to
provide £100 million to help assist this
crisis, and it is absolutely imperative

bus angers
that they go ahead with this.
A further rise in unemployment,
especially that of the magnitude of

passengers
Freescale, cannot be repeated.
I sympathise with the hundreds of
families that have been affected by the
Freescale closure. Let us hope that this
is not a trend set to continue.

Youth group
By Jennifer Lilley

wins award A HAMILTO rural bus service

A YOUTH group based in Blantyre
has won a national award for its
work in the community.
Terminal One, which has been in
existence since 1991, came out on top
as the Community-led Organisation of
the Year at this years Regeneration and
Renewal Awards held at London’s
Hurlingham Club.
The organisation which employs 22
members of staff and has 2 volunteers
has also just seen its stated users hit the
1000 mark.
The organisations chairman, Gillian
Bell, said: “We were delighted when we
heard that we had reached the finals of
the competition.”
She added: “It is great recognition
of the hard work carried out by our staff
and volunteers past and present.
“We couldn’t have done it without
them.”
Terminal One also operates youth
groups in Coatshill, Burnbank and
Hillhouse.
Next year, the centre celebrates its
which received a reprieve just 7
months ago is being slated by the pub-
lic.
The number 13 bus which links
Quarter, Glassford, Strathaven and
Chapelton has been called unreliable and
unsafe for children, elderly and the
disabled.
Henderson Travel who has run the bus
route since 1989, received £5000 funding
from SPT to improve its evening and
Sunday services between Hamilton and
East Kilbride but improvements have yet
to be seen.
Furious parents say that they have
been left stranded at the bus stop as they
cannot get their babies and buggies on
board.
They are calling for more low-level
buses to be added to the service.
Single parent Jean Smith (28), who
lives in Quarter with her two children,
Luke (6) and 18-month-old Bailey, fumed:
“I have to wait until a low-level bus arrives
and sometimes that can take up to four
hours.”
“We just want the ‘buggy’ buses back
so that we can do our shopping in
UNSAFE: Passengers complained that the number 13 bus is not fit for purpose
“It’s a very serious issue for parents
and the elderly in this area.
“Many pensioners who get about with a
walking stick, need to be lifted onto the
bus because the step is too high.
“Someone is going to fall off and injure
themselves unless something is done. We
live in Quarter and this service is vital to
get around.”
Mr Henderson said the firm has
invested a whopping £3million on a new
fleet of buses over the past few years and
splashed out £90,000 each on eight brand-
new vehicles last year alone.
The recently added buses known as the
American Style bus service is however
also said by parents of young children to
be neither child, elderly or disability
friendly. This is despite the fact that
Henderson Travel should be adhering to
the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, an
act which is said will improve the
accessibility of disabled people when using
public transport.
Not only is the service viewed as
unsafe but the public have also classed it as
Sarah Phillip (20), regularly uses the
service to get home from Hamilton or to
travel to East Kilbride. She said: “Most of
the time you only get one bus an hour,
which isn’t very good considering the
amount of people that use the service.
“The value for money isn’t very good
either. I pay £2 for a single from Glassford
to Hamilton when on First Bus you can
get an all day ticket for £3.
“I’ve also heard so many mums
complain about the lack of buggy buses.”
Owner of Henderson Travel, Mr John
Henderson has apologised for
inconvenience to travellers and said: “We
have two new £120,000, 35-seater ultra
low-level buses and have been waiting on
them being delivered as there has been a
delay.
“We will have more low-level services
on this route in the next couple of weeks
and we have more evening and weekend
services than any other operator in
Lanarkshire.
“As for the safety of our buses this is
something which I will be looking into and

Plant closure will result in loss of 800 jobs

25th anniversary serving communities. Hamilton during the day. unreliable. I will be hoping to improve.”

According to government further. employment, but the world

FROM PAGE ONE
These recent layoffs are just the
latest in a huge rise in
unemployment in Britan with a
further 30,000 unemployed
workers the total is now expected
to be 1.75 million. In response
the government is looking to
provide an additional £100
million to help retain workers.
statistics unemployment in the
UK has risen by 5.7 per cent
over the year. These figures are
matched only by the
unemployment levels of the early
1990’s.
The Trade Union Congress
suggested a series of urgent
measures in order to stop the
amount of job losses rising any
The union organization said
the government should also
increase the statutory minimum
redundancy pay – as promised in
Labour’s last election manifesto
– and offer greater tax relief on
redundancy payments.
TUC general secretary
Brendan Barber said: “We have
got used to record levels of
has changed and we need new
policies for jobless times.
“There can be no
assumption that the people
who are losing their jobs will
find it easy to get new ones
and they will need all the help
they can get with redudancy
pay, retraining and
professional advice.” LOSS: 800 jobs will go
 Local
musician
on the road
to the top
Hamilton Nightly
interviews: John
B McKenna
different melodies. I write a lot of poetry
By Andrew Burns and this contributes to the lyrics.”
John B McKenna is one of many artists
emerging from a vast Glasgow music scene
CARLUKE-BOR musician John B that has arguably
McKenna, 20, has become one of the never been stronger,
countries most highly rated singer/song- and in particular for
writers. John plays an experimental local, aspiring
blend of folk-pop, taking influence from musicians. There are
musical greats such as Elliot Smith and countless gigs on
Pink Floyd. every day
Over the past few years, John has throughout many
dedicated almost all of his time to writing venues. Similarly,
and recording material. This is something there are more radio
that he feels is highly important for any stations showing
hopeful musician. “You have to record dedication to local
your songs, get them online and give your music, something
demos to anyone you can, especially for which John himself
free.” has felt the benefit
His dark melodies are eerie and of.
mystical. Listening to debut EP ‘9 Old After coming to
Recordings’, which was recorded whilst the aide of a friend
John lived in at home in Carluke, it is easy in need, John
to place this blend of folk-pop alongside performed at the BBC Introducing
Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’. showcase at the Glasgow ABC2, which
The lyrics are well constructed, and subsequently led to the songs appearing on
rather story-like, which is something he BBC Radio 1 and Podcasts. He said: “I got
feels is very important. “I spent a lot of a phone call from the promoter when I was
time focusing on the lyrics. I would say home in Carluke one day asking if I could
that they are quite conceptual,” McKenna come play a show in two hours. I got a
This weeks film releases
said. “I will spend so much time playing letter in a few weeks later asking if they
my guitar, singing different lyrics over could play me on BBC Radio, I was quick
BURN AFTER READING
*****
Burn After Reading is the latest comedy offer-
ing from the Oscar wining Coen brothers is
set to be released on Friday. It features a star-
studded cast with such big names as George
Clooney, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand,
John Malcovich and Tilda Swinton. This witty
caper is set around two hapless gym employ-
ees (Pitt and McDormand) who come across a
disk full of FBI secrets and attempt to black-
mail the disks owner (Malcovich). Once a
hired hit man gets involved (Clooney) and the
question of how the disk arrived in the gym at
all, things get a lot more confusing.
to say yes!” in recent months as some of his Glasgow
The musical journey for McKenna counterparts, John B McKenna has been
started in his hometown, where he quietly content in the background,
dedicated hours on end at home to writing gradually developing his musical abilities.
“I was hired to host an open-acoustic night
at The Captains Rest in Glasgow,” he
added, “but after a hat-trick of nights I
decided to call it a day. I thought it would
be better for me to be able concentrate on
bettering my own music, rather than
working to someone else’s deadlines.”
Being a ‘one-man band’, difficulties
arise when attempting to develop a live
performance to reflect the recordings. John
is well aware that his live performance may
lack the originality that his recordings so
strongly possess, and this is certainly
something he hopes to progress with. “I
want to bring a lot of things in to the live
show, especially bringing in the
synthesizers, it would make such a
difference.” He added: “I like to put
everything that can be there in to my
and recording. This is something that he recording. Definitely in the future though, I
feels is highly important for any hopeful plan on developing this into my live show.”
musician. “You have to record your songs, Having recently self-recorded a new
get them online and give your demos to EP, which John is also distributing
anyone you can, especially for free. You’re independently, the future is undoubtedly
not going to make money for a long time. bright for the well-spoken local boy. Not in
It’s almost impossible. If it is what you a long time have such beautifully dark
want to do though, then you accept that.” bedroom recordings impressed in a way
While life may not have been as hectic that John B McKenna has managed.
In association with
THE
ROCKER
**
The Rocker is the latest comedy from
director Peter Catteno and stars Rainn
Wilson as Robert “Fish’ Fishman the
hard partying drummer for an 80’s hair
metal band. Depressed after being
kicked out of his band he soon hears
that his nephew is starting a band and
wants in. His nephew reluctantly ac-
cepts and Fish seeks to prove to his old
band mates that he is the greatest
drummer that ever lived.
Hamilton Ticket prices cut

NightlySport
ACCIES fans could reap the benefits of a cut-price ticket
deal thanks to local rivals Motherwell.
The Fir Park side have taken the lead in the fight to lower
entry prices for hard-up Scottish football fans.
Accies supporters travelling to Fir Park for the game on
November 1will be the first to take advantage of a deal
which allows free entry for juveniles when accompanied by a
paying adult for Category B games – games against sides
such as Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs.
Motherwell Chief Executive, Ian Stillie said: “With our
latest initiative we are underlining our commitment to
encouraging more youngsters to the games.

ACCIES RESERVES
“Motherwell football club has taken the lead on the issue
Wednesday, October 15, 2008 and we would encourage our SPL partners to reciprocate the
changes.”

LOSE
THIRD IN
A ROW
Hamilton suffer 2-1
defeat to Falkirk
By Andrew Burns
HAMILTO Accies reserves slumped
to a third consecutive defeat as Falkirk
Reserves won 2-1 at Prestonfield Park,
Linlithgow.
It was a tightly contested opening first
half-hour, with little chances on goal for
either side.
The Bairns took the lead after 40
minutes following a neat piece of skill
from Mark Stewart, finding space for
himself to slot the ball by Accies
goalkeeper Sean Murdoch.
Stewart was involved again as Falkirk
doubled their lead ten minutes into the
second half. The striker collided with
Accies defender James Gibson, forcing
him to head the ball into his own net.
interval, Accies resorted to
using all three substitutions
early in the second half,
bringing on Lucas Atkins, Gary DEFEAT: Hamilton concede their second goal in a tightly contested game
Gow and Brian Carrigan.
The second period was much more the far corner to pull one back for range as the Well defence failed to deal
promising for the Hamilton side, with Hamilton. with a corner.
Falkirk seemingly content with their two Whilst it was a mostly subdued opening With nine minutes remaining, there was
goal lead. hour for Accies Reserves, the impact made further misery for Motherwell as Craig
The substitutes combined soon after by the substitutes is one promising aspect Dargo looked to have won the game for
being introduced, with accurate passing that can be taken from the defeat. The Buddies. The veteran striker broke free
and driving runs eventually giving Falkirk Motherwell Reserves rescued a point from his marker, capitalising on a deep free
something to worry about. from a thrilling 2-2 encounter against St kick to strike the ball into the net.
Carrigan had the keeper beaten, Mirren Reserves. However, with just four minutes
Mark Archdeacon gave The Steelmen remaining left to play, Mark Archdeacon
however his crisp-strike struck the post,
with Atkins only able to head the rebound the lead with a coolly taken penalty, was brought down again in penalty area.
straight into the arms of the Falkirk slotting home after being hauled down in This time however, the ref played a superb
goalkeeper. the box. piece of advantage. Robert McHugh gained
Atkins made amends for his missed St Mirren replied just before the half possession following the fowl on
opportunity nine minutes later though. The time interval, punishing Motherwell for a Archdeacon, turned excellently and struck
substitute shrugged off Falkirk defender host of missed chances. Substitute Jon the ball past The Buddies ‘keeper to rescue

Hamilton vs St Mirren
Trailing by two goals soon after the Gerard Aafjes before curling a strike into McShane headed home from point-blank a justified point.

ACCIES return to ac-
tion this Saturday
against fellow SPL
strugglers St Mirren.
The clash at New
Douglas Park comes hot
on the heels of the
international break and
both squads will be eager
to get back into league
business.
Hamilton’s train-like
start to the season has
saw the side hit the
buffers in their last two
games, losing eight goals
and scoring just one in 4-
1 and 4-0 defeats to
Falkirk and Celtic
respectively.
St Mirren enter the
contest on a high after a
stunning home victory
over league-leaders
Rangers, the 1-0 victory,
courtesy of a Stephen
McGinn strike, saw the
Buddies move off the
foot of the table and they
now sit just one point
behind their hosts.
It is a vital game for
both sides with the two
teams lying precariously
close to the relegation
spot and with both teams
tipped to struggle pre-
season, that is a place that The 12 SPL managers meet in front of the SPL trophy at
they would hope to avoid.
Gleneagles for the third SPL coaching forum.