A SCAFFOLDING firm hit by the decline in the construction industry has said it will continue to trade for as long as possible.
Osbaldwick-based Contract Services (Yorkshire) Limited (CSL), which has employed people in York for almost 40 years, is still taking on new business and will continue to trade for as long as it can, said founder Leslie Cullum.
But he said the economic situation and the decline in the construction industry meant that it was not worthwhile carrying the business on in the long term.
He said: “The result is that after 38 years, we are closing the business down in a controlled manner over the next three to four months and maybe longer.
“During that time every contract will be completed and everyone has been issued with redundancy notices. We will endeavour to extend those notices for as long as we find it viable to. We are still looking for business to keep these people employed as long as possible.”
The business, which employs 40 to 50 people, has provided scaffolding for small projects as well as high-profile work for commercial, industrial and heritage organisations, including York Minster’s East Window and the Sadlers Wells Theatre in London.
Mr Cullum said: “We have got some people who have been here for 30 years and the company has been at the forefront of the industry.
“We have given a lot of people a lot of jobs over the years and it’s very sad on my part that we find ourselves in this situation, but it’s the direct result of the economic situation.”