A SCOTTISH Government minister has said time is of the essence as he convenes the first set of crunch talks in Dundee aimed at saving the city’s Michelin tyre factory.

Economy Secretary Derek Mackay will chair the first meeting of the 16-strong Michelin Action Group, which he will urge to develop “an innovating proposition” aimed at finding a sustainable future for the plant and its high-skilled workforce of almost 850.

The company’s French bosses have given him until the end of this month to come up with a plan, and have said they will consider in detail any proposal brought forward by the action group or the trade unions.

Mackay said: “Combining the expert knowledge of national and local government and our enterprise agencies, the group will seek advice from a range of manufacturing leaders and the local workforce – those who know the plant and workforce inside out – to explore all options for the future of the Michelin plant and its highly skilled workforce.

“Despite confirming they intend to close the plant in 2020, Michelin have agreed to give our proposition a hearing and so time is of the essence.

“The Michelin Action Group will work tirelessly in the coming weeks to produce a proposition that outlines what can be done to help retain a presence in Dundee and examine how the plant could be repurposed for the future if Michelin decide to press ahead with the closure.”

This first meeting of the group comes as questions are raised about the millions of pounds Michelin has received in taxpayers’ cash – much of which was aimed at modernising and protecting the Dundee facility.

Scottish Enterprise – whose chief executive Steve Dunlop is jointly leading the action group – gave the company £1.5 million last year, the first instalment of a £4.5m grant which included funding for electronic tyre curing technology, the first of its type to be installed by Michelin in any of its larger worldwide facilities.

However, Scottish Enterprise told The National that the grant had conditions attached to it and “technically could be subject to recovery”.

Our sister paper the Sunday National revealed yesterday that, according to analysis released the day before workers were given the closure news, Michelin could save more than £40m by closing the Dundee factory as it accelerates plans to save more than £87m by 2020.