Horizon ‘still in talks’ over Rhosgoch

NUCLEAR bosses have responded to calls seeking the transformation of a former oil depot in order to develop an economic legacy for northern Anglesey.

As recently reported in the Mail, the chairman of Amlwch Town Council has been leading calls to transform the former Shell Oil depot in Rhosgoch to first house up to 4,000 nuclear construction staff, before later transformation into a “Center Parcs” style development once the plant was built.

But these hopes have seem- ingly been dashed after Horizon, who are behind plans for the proposed £14bn Wylfa Newydd plant, unveiled new plans for a single temporary workforce village next to the nuclear site.

This would mean accommodation blocks of up to seven storeys high, but effectively ending previous proposals for workers to be based at other temporary sites such as Holyhead’s Land and Lakes, Rhosgoch and another site on the outskirts of Amlwch.

As far back as 2012, a consortium of town and community councils in northern Anglesey were leading calls for the Rhos- goch site to be transformed into a “Center Parcs” style holiday park, attracting thousands of tourists each year.

Creating much-needed jobs in the area, the mooted development would have included adventure activities, shops and restaurants, with the site being bought two years ago from Anglesey Council by Conygar in a £3m deal.

But despite the latest setback, Cllr Gareth Winston Roberts, also a former leader of Anglesey Council, last week urged Horizon to sit down with the site’s owners to develop other uses for the site and realise its economic potential.

This week, a spokesman for Conygar told the Mail that the development was “not something they were willing to discuss at present”.

But Richard Foxhall, Stakeholder Relations Manager for Horizon (pictured) said: “While Rhosgoch is no longer in our proposals for temporary worker accommodation, it may have a use in the future for support services during both construction and operation of the Wylfa Newydd power station.

“We will remain in discussions both with the community and with the Rhosgoch site owners, Conygar, as the Project develops.”