Sussex council to hold Parker Pen talks (From The Argus)

I do wonder what planet these councillors come from.

Manufacturing is still dying a slow death in this country. Even Rolls Royce (Aero Engines) does design work in Germany now. What chance is there for a pen maker in Newhaven?

If there was nothing wrong with the factories or the workforce, why is the work being moved to France? The work is being moved, it is not ending.

I have both Parker pens and Watermans. Looking at the box of Waterman cartridges I bought the other day in Brighton, where are they made? Answer: France. Where is my Duofold Centennial (Parker) made? Answer: France.

Where does a lot of the ammunition come from that our troops are using in Afghanistan? Answer: India. It is amazing that something so basic as ammunition is bought in from overseas.

All the councillors and MPs know about in this country is adding more costs to businesses. I can't think of a single measure of the last few years which has resulted in lower costs.

The councillor and MPs (cos they are all the same type of people) will say "well, it's only pens. Or ammunition. Or widgets". True, but these little things constantly add up.

If somebody in a few months time wants to set up a pen factory, they would consider two important points: 1. Where is cheap to do it? 2. Where is there a workforce with relevant skills? Answer to both: Not in Newhaven.

The new jobs that these ex-workers are likely to find is something in retail or a warehouse. Basically they will move from being artisans to being box shifters. The great un-skilled gets bigger every day.

bibble wrote:
I do wonder what planet these councillors come from. Manufacturing is still dying a slow death in this country. Even Rolls Royce (Aero Engines) does design work in Germany now. What chance is there for a pen maker in Newhaven? If there was nothing wrong with the factories or the workforce, why is the work being moved to France? The work is being moved, it is not ending. I have both Parker pens and Watermans. Looking at the box of Waterman cartridges I bought the other day in Brighton, where are they made? Answer: France. Where is my Duofold Centennial (Parker) made? Answer: France. Where does a lot of the ammunition come from that our troops are using in Afghanistan? Answer: India. It is amazing that something so basic as ammunition is bought in from overseas. All the councillors and MPs know about in this country is adding more costs to businesses. I can't think of a single measure of the last few years which has resulted in lower costs. The councillor and MPs (cos they are all the same type of people) will say "well, it's only pens. Or ammunition. Or widgets". True, but these little things constantly add up. If somebody in a few months time wants to set up a pen factory, they would consider two important points: 1. Where is cheap to do it? 2. Where is there a workforce with relevant skills? Answer to both: Not in Newhaven. The new jobs that these ex-workers are likely to find is something in retail or a warehouse. Basically they will move from being artisans to being box shifters. The great un-skilled gets bigger every day.

well said, this site will still be empty, or will be a storage use, truth be known, the council have done nothing to help companies except when they can not miss a photo or argus interview! country is going down hill fast, from the 70s when people laughed at japanese cars and motor bikes, we make nothing, have no desire to support the british work force, and fail to stop the spongers on benefit, we all know it, but were all so pc to stop it.

bibble wrote:
I do wonder what planet these councillors come from.

Manufacturing is still dying a slow death in this country. Even Rolls Royce (Aero Engines) does design work in Germany now. What chance is there for a pen maker in Newhaven?

If there was nothing wrong with the factories or the workforce, why is the work being moved to France? The work is being moved, it is not ending.

I have both Parker pens and Watermans. Looking at the box of Waterman cartridges I bought the other day in Brighton, where are they made? Answer: France. Where is my Duofold Centennial (Parker) made? Answer: France.

Where does a lot of the ammunition come from that our troops are using in Afghanistan? Answer: India. It is amazing that something so basic as ammunition is bought in from overseas.

All the councillors and MPs know about in this country is adding more costs to businesses. I can't think of a single measure of the last few years which has resulted in lower costs.

The councillor and MPs (cos they are all the same type of people) will say "well, it's only pens. Or ammunition. Or widgets". True, but these little things constantly add up.

If somebody in a few months time wants to set up a pen factory, they would consider two important points: 1. Where is cheap to do it? 2. Where is there a workforce with relevant skills? Answer to both: Not in Newhaven.

The new jobs that these ex-workers are likely to find is something in retail or a warehouse. Basically they will move from being artisans to being box shifters. The great un-skilled gets bigger every day.

You're such an epic FAIL, bibble.

Parker pen factory is probaly the last of the original major employers down at newhaven, long gone are JVC/ferguson, concord lighting, the big injection moulding company whos name i cant remember but they made addis ware and action man, endeavour motors body repair shop, is reprodux still around? many names long gone, reality is it is cheaper to relocate prduction in the far east.
newhaven harbour was a major import export terminal for cars, sand and ballast and of course bananas,
and of course it had rail yards, you could swim, fish and walk along the west arm of the harbour, anyone remember the BR train that used to run there, BR always had 3 shunters on duty in the main harbour.
great to reminise but the global economy has changed, bibble is babbling that his scribing instrument is made in france, well mate the french goverment have a different veiw of how to get the best out of the EU they keep the Bureaucracy down and keep putting grant money into local economies, it is not necessarily profitable but they oil local economies.
Our leaders, local and national pile on the Bureaucracy, and raise taxes, inventing even more ingenious ways to part us with our cash. and obtaining grant money seems to be impossible (a friend of mine in romania has just been granted e1,246,00 yes one and a quarter million euros to set up a pig breeding unit that will employ just 1 full time person)
the port of shoreham for some inexplicable reason given the appaling road connections and total lack of railway connection has managed to keep going as a commercial port,
newhaven has transformed to a service industry area, and giant rubbish dump/incinerator,
so parker may go, my guess is that 180 new jobs will soon appear, but not as such in one new company, or one as prestigious as "The Parker Pen Co"
this is not a sign of doom and gloom, but a regular reality check

Times change. I remember the hoo-hah when the Duofold came out in 1988 - it was THE fountain pen to have if you wanted to show you were 'somebody'. Nowadays everyone is into techie stuff, so luxury pens are really for collectors and die-hards only, especially in a recession. I mean, who is going to shell out £280 for a Duofold Centennial fountain pen when you can buy an Ipod for the same price?