Left to right Gordon Bell, myself, John Capstick and Denis Garner

Yesterday I visited Leigh Paints in Kestor Street to meet with the Chairman Brian Leigh-Bramwell, Managing Director, Dick Frost and Technical Director, Gordon Bell.      Leigh Paints is a family run concern and really looks after its employeees, in fact adopting the Conservative ethos of ‘Bottom Up’ rather than ‘Top Down’ management.

The company employs 260 staff and is a paint manufacturer.  As well as normal coatings it specialises in fire retardent coatings holding 60/70% of the UK market.   One of the most well known structures covered with Leigh Paints would be the Forth Bridge in Scotland.

One of the  many issues we discussed was the apparent disparity in rules and regulations across the EU which disadvantages british companies from competing in the European Union.   Leigh Paints is also a leader in its field when it comes to research and development, however like many companies it needs help with some form of tax relief to allow this research to continue.   Instead of help all it seems to get is more regulation!

I have pledged that if elected I will do all I can to help their business, as well as many other businesses in Bolton.