Meeting to discuss reopening Welsh abattoir

Welsh livestock farmers are urged to attend a meeting about proposals to reopen Gaerwen Abattoir.

The Anglesey abattoir, which closed in April, was previously run by Welsh Country Foods before being bought and almost immediately put up for sale by 2 Sisters Food Group in October.

The NFU Cymru meeting is being held to establish farmer interest in reopening the site.

Plaid Cymru assembly member for Anglesey Rhun Ap Iorwerth will address the meeting, which will be held on Monday (18 November) at 7.30pm at Tafarn y Rhos, Llangefni.

Mr Ap Iorwerth said he was determined to do what he could to pursue possible routes to the plant’s reopening.

“I have been talking to individuals who have been involved with Gaerwen Abattoir in the past who want to make it work, would like to get involved in its reopening and have concrete ideas on how to make it work again – including reducing its size and introducing a beef line,” he said.

He said there were three options for reopening the plant:

✱ A purchase by a current abattoir business looking for a north-west Wales base

✱ A local enterprise backed by venture capital

✱ A local enterprise set up as a co-operative model.

Mr Ap Iorwerth said the first option must be explored and he hoped the government was on the lookout for a buyer again.

However, the third option should also be seriously looked at, he said, which was why he was keen to ascertain who the interested parties were.

“This isn’t about asking farmers whether or not they definitely want to do this – it’s about seeing whether or not they want to look in detail at what might be possible.

“Let’s see how keen the industry is to pursue this. What I want to do is to make sure no potential avenue is left unexplored,” he added.

The meeting will also include updates on each livestock sector, an opportunity to discuss rural crime and confirmation of county delegates for the next two years.