FUW disappointed AT Denbigh Mill closure

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has expressed bitter disappointment at today’s announcement by BOCM PAULS that they intend to cease the manufacture of compound feeds at their Denbigh mill by the end of July this year with the expected loss of 40 jobs.

"Twenty mill staff, 12 drivers and eight office staff are employed at the site and, apart from their job losses, the farming industry throughout North and Mid Wales can ill afford to lose a facility whose prompt and friendly service farmers have received for so long," said Denbigh Mill customer Alun Edwards, a member of the FUW’s finance and organisation committee.

"Although no-one has yet been laid off BOCM PAULS say they have entered a period of statutory consultation in connection with the changes at the site and the outcome of that will not be known for some time.

"But we already know that the manufacture of feed will be transferred from the Denbigh Mill - which delivers to farms from as far afield as Anglesey and Llandrindod Wells - to the company’s sites at Newcastle under Lyme and Preston.

"Obviously, with drivers based so far away we will then lose the drivers’ personal bilingual service and their frequency of deliveries. It is such a backward step for farmers in the region. The service will never be the same again," added Welsh-speaking Mr Edwards, who farms at Rhydymain, near Dolgellau.

Denbigh Mill currently manufactures ruminant diets during the winter and game feed over the summer months but BOCM PAULS say their decision follows a review of the company’s manufacturing capacity in the light of current demand trends in all livestock sectors.

They claim there has been a reduction in the overall demand for animal feed over recent months and they also expect game feed volumes to be adversely affected by the difficult economic climate.

Game feed will continue to be manufactured at Denbigh until July when the site is expected to close and the volume transferred to the company’s sites at Bury St Edmunds and Radstock. The company’s store at Denbigh will be retained so that customers can continue to collect bagged feed.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: Alun Edwards can be contacted on 01341 450664 or 0773 081 3478.