Farm plant plan back 20 years on
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/north_west/7171957.stm Version 0 of 1. A plan for a slaughterhouse on a Gwynedd farm looks set to be realised - more than 20 years after it was put on hold because of the Chernobyl disaster. Rain brought radiation to the upland areas of Wales from the world's worst nuclear accident in April 1986. Restrictions were then placed on sheep and lamb movements from 5,100 farms and Dafydd Morris abandoned his plan. The scheme at Deiniolen, near Llanberis has council backing and an assembly government minister has welcomed it. "The government, and everyone, today call on us to give value for money on our produce and to diversify," said Mr Morris, who farms native Welsh mountain sheep. I think the public will be behind us Dafydd Morris, farmer "We are used to the mountains which produces small lambs from small sheep, but the taste is the best in the whole world. The plant which Mr Morris hopes will be open in September will be able to process 80 sheep a week. Ultimately, Mr Morris hopes the venture will be able to obtain organic status. There was some local opposition because of fears about potential smells and also because the slaughterhouse is being built in a rural location. But the venture was backed by both Llanddeiniolen community council and Gwynedd Council. Diversification opportunity "This plant means we can stick to what we know, and I think the public will be behind us," Mr Morris added. As well as farming, Mr Morris is also chairman of the Council of Welsh Highland Shepherds and he met Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, on 3 December. A spokesperson for the assembly government said: "During the course of the discussion that covered a range of issues, Mr Morris mentioned the intention to proceed with his on-farm slaughterhouse enterprise, citing this as a diversification opportunity. "The minister welcomed this development whilst recognising that it would be for Mr Morris to take forward the proposal," the spokesperson said. |