Staff at a fire-hit north-east fish factory should find out on Monday where their future lies following a devastating blaze last weekend.
The Northbay Pelagic Ltd plant at Peterhead – one of the largest and most advanced fish processing sites of its kind in Europe – was gutted in the incident which left a question mark over hundreds of jobs.
Those fears appear to have been allayed after an announcement that the firm intends to rebuild the premises.
A meeting has been arranged with employees for Monday to discuss where staff will work during the reconstruction period.
The announcement was made following a meeting of a multi-agency task force involving the Scottish Government, Aberdeenshire Council, Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland.
Also attending were representatives of Seafood Scotland, The Scottish Pelagic Processors Association, and Peterhead Port Authority.
Council leader Jim Gifford said: “The task force will now work together to make sure Northbay Pelagic has access to all the advice and support it needs to allow the factory to get up and running again as soon as possible.”
He added that Northbay had been continuing to sell to consumers thanks to its “significant” quantity of cold stock.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead MSP described efforts to help as “imperative”.
He added: “I am pleased the company is able to continue supplying customers and, in the longer term, intends to rebuild the factory.
“Clearly, fire investigation is still underway and, once that is complete, I am keen that the task force works together to get the new factory fully operational as quickly as possible.”
Peterhead councillor Anne Allan added that the meeting was a good step forward for the Buchan town.
She said: “All these partners need to work as quickly as possible to get the company back on its feet and do what’s necessary – whatever that is – to get it running again.”
Charlotte Street, which was closed shortly after the fire broke out, is expected to remain inaccessible until the factory’s structure can be assessed.
A drop-in session for those affected by the fire will take place on Thursday at Kirk Street’s Hot Spot, Peterhead, at 9am.
A second session, on the same day, begins at 1pm.