January 2009 Archives

WITH 2009 dawning to the woes of the credit crunch and fears over job losses, this week's memories harks back to a similar time of high unemployment.

Early in 1981 the jobless rate for Ormskirk was 17.2% of the working population, well above the national figure of 10%. At the time there were only 22 vacancies in the Ormskirk unemployment office.

More than 50 people were made redundant at Universal Bulk Handling on Orrell Lane, Burscough. The news came as a blow to workers as the company had only announced a £150,000 order a few weeks before.

ORMSKIRK farmers were counting the cost of one of the worst winters in living memory in January 1982.

The frost destroyed 40 acres of leeks at Ray Jeffs' Halsall farm.

He said the attack of frostbite had cost him in excess of five figures and 15 staff had been made redundant.