Trevor is really letting off steam

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Saturday 1st Mar 2003.

THE OWNER of a business which is a unique British success story says European regulations are threatening to close him down.

Swindon Copper Boilers is one of just seven companies in the world which manufacture copper boilers for miniature steam trains.

It has been trading for 20 years, successfully exporting boilers around the world.

But now owner Trevor Tremblen 57, who runs the business from Great Western One industrial estate in Bristol Street, says he is being pushed out of business by an EU regulation which passed into UK law last May.

The Pressure Equipment Directive sets out the safety standards for everything from pressure cookers to power stations and involves testing the purity of metals used.

But it also covers the tiny UK miniature steam train copper boiler industry.

Mr Tremblen, who says the regulations have already cost him £30,000 in lost orders, says the cost of complying with the regulations will force him out of business unless the British Department of Trade and Industry will agree to grant him an exemption.

He said: "We've had orders cancelled in Sweden and orders cancelled in England.

"We've had one cancelled from Tasmania.

"We've also got a workshop full of boilers that are now illegal.

"We've got more work than we can handle but we are not allowed to do it.

He says that the company, which has a workforce of two and a turnover of around £50,000, has never had a problem with any of its boilers.

He said: "The quality of these boilers hasn't changed in the last 20 years ­ all we are talking about is paperwork. Europe is holding a loaded gun to Great Britain.

"We are so small that we haven't got the finances to comply.

"It's us this time but it will be another small business next time."

Mr Tremblen says complying with the regulations will cost him about £5,000 to carry out the initial inspections.

It will then add a further £1,000 to the cost of producing each boiler, which normally sell for £1,200 each.

This is because each piece of copper used in the manufacturing process needs to be tested for purity at a cost of £80 a time.

South West MEP Caroline Jackson, who is based in Swindon, (Con) today promised to back Mr Tremblen's case.

She said: "I'm getting in touch with the DTI about this.

"What seems to have happened is these boiler makers have been left out of the consultation process.

"What I'm going to be arguing for is some sort of special treatment for this very limited number of people.

"What we need is the DTI exercising its discretion and being flexible."

Minister for Science and Innovation at the Department of Trade and Industry Lord Sainsbury said: "The DTI is prepared to take a lot of trouble to help small businesses cope with legislation. Up to £2,000 could be provided in each individual case to offset the set-up charges."

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