A long-running family-owned business in St Columb Major is celebrating the New Year with the launch of a new venture. 

Western Flat Roofing based at St Columb Industrial Estate has started a sister company called Western Fire Protection, which offers a number of services such as fire door installation and compartmentation surveys. 

Founded in 1966, by Raymond Shazell along with his close friends Ken Sowden and Jack Wellington, Western Flat Roofing undertakes work on commercial and domestic buildings.  

The company, which is now headed up by Raymond’s son Charles, saw an opportunity to provide a more comprehensive service following increasing demand from customers. 

Charles said: “At Western Flat Roofing, we have always been committed to expertise and excellence, and now, with Western Fire Protection, our goal is to safeguard lives and property through diligent passive fire protection solutions. 

“I am incredibly proud to be expanding our long-standing family business that has been built on a legacy of hard work and commitment. 

“With the support of our dedicated team members, we can now venture into new horizons while also continuing to deliver our original services to the highest standard. 

“We believe in providing the highest quality services to our customers, and we are excited to bring this same level of excellence to the field of fire safety.”