President visits Denbigh Butcher and abattoir

The Farmers Union of Wales President Gareth Vaughan has urged rural affairs Minister Elin Jones to explore all possible options to reduce the threat to small abattoirs, during a recent visit to J. Williams in Denbigh.

The President, and a delegation of Union County Officials were given a tour of the new premises on Vale Street, as well as the abattoir, by Glyn Davies. It was explained they have major concerns on the proposed changes to the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS), changes which will be implemented over the next 12 months. He explained that growing costs, and the anticipated changes could be damaging to his business and many others like his across Wales.

At the end of the visit, FUW President Gareth Vaughan said, "We hope to discuss these worrying changes with the MHS in the near future, and hope that a common sense approach is adopted to ensure our network of local abattoirs are able to continue in the future".

County Executive Officer Gareth Wyn Jones also added, "When public demand and government support for locally slaughtered produce is growing it is vital that businesses such as Glyn's is given the support it needs to ensure the industry, as well as the consumer, has access to local produce. The local abattoirs are therefore essential to this need".