Visited with Clough instead of another site that we decided we'd save for a better weather day when we've got more time on our hands.
Robert Fletchers, Greenfield.
As a business, Fletchers was established in the early 19th century as a paper bleaching and manufacturing company.
Towards the late 90’s the two mills of Robert Fletcher & Son Ltd started to struggle. The increased cost of wood pulp and energy combined to make it tough financially. In 1997 the greenfield site had a turnover of nearly £17m and shareholder funds exceeded £9m. By 1999 turnover was down to £8.2m and the shareholders funds had dwindled to little over £4m.
In 2000 in an effort to save the business going to the wall resulted in the closure of the Stoneclough site and 120 job losses resulted from the closure although 50 new jobs would be created at the Greenfield site. Despite this move the company continued to spiral into financial ruin and in July 2001 several suppliers and creditors formally applied to wind up the company and resulted in the closure, overnight, of the Greenfield site.
There has been significant activity with scrap fairies and we left via the front door with a police escort after apparently being spotted on some new internal CCTV cameras. Securiton and Police were very pleasant, totally got what we were doing and were a good laugh about it. Outlined reasons we could be arrested, quick stop and search, on our way in 15 mins. No faffing around climbing out either!
C-F-T-I
Robert Fletchers, Greenfield.
As a business, Fletchers was established in the early 19th century as a paper bleaching and manufacturing company.
Towards the late 90’s the two mills of Robert Fletcher & Son Ltd started to struggle. The increased cost of wood pulp and energy combined to make it tough financially. In 1997 the greenfield site had a turnover of nearly £17m and shareholder funds exceeded £9m. By 1999 turnover was down to £8.2m and the shareholders funds had dwindled to little over £4m.
In 2000 in an effort to save the business going to the wall resulted in the closure of the Stoneclough site and 120 job losses resulted from the closure although 50 new jobs would be created at the Greenfield site. Despite this move the company continued to spiral into financial ruin and in July 2001 several suppliers and creditors formally applied to wind up the company and resulted in the closure, overnight, of the Greenfield site.
There has been significant activity with scrap fairies and we left via the front door with a police escort after apparently being spotted on some new internal CCTV cameras. Securiton and Police were very pleasant, totally got what we were doing and were a good laugh about it. Outlined reasons we could be arrested, quick stop and search, on our way in 15 mins. No faffing around climbing out either!
C-F-T-I
