Fraser Eagle jobs under threat

AROUND 50 jobs are at risk at a Burnley coach and bus company.

Fraser Eagle, which employs around 170 staff, was forced to lay off 50 workers for a month from last Monday.

If the company cannot find enough extra work to take the 50 staff back on, they will be entitled to redundancy in three weeks time.

A spokesperson for the company confirmed that the recent loss of rail replacement bus service contracts, including one with Arriva, had put pressure on the company.

He added that an unpaid bill of £170,000 with failed airline XL Airways, had added to cash flow problems.

The news follows the closure of the group’s used car dealership division Fraser Eagle Cars, with the loss of nine jobs, on Friday January 13.

Managing director Kevin Dean said: “At a time when other recognised consumer brands in the transport and logistics sector have been forced to make difficult decisions, it has become clear that our company is not immune from the prevailing economic climate.

“We are proud of our Lancashire roots and have been operating in the area for over 90 years – we certainly don’t intend to stop now, but have had to announce these temporary lay offs to ensure the future of the company.

“We are extremely sympathetic to all those affected, and are working hard on an initiative to endeavour to reinstate the posts that have been temporarily laid off or create new ones where possible, which we hope to announce in the next couple of weeks.

“Indeed we are working closely with the Dyson family, the owners of Fraser Eagle to steer the company through these difficult times.”