Business is praised for the care of its staff
COUPLES looking to get married on Anglesey could face the prospect of tying the knot on an industrial estate yards from a slaughterhouse.
With the Llangefni Shirehall up for sale, the county registry office is being moved to the Anglesey Business Centre on the Bryn Cefni Business Park.
The new wedding venue will be a stone’s throw from the 2 Sisters chicken processing plant.
Town councillors are furious at the planned move, saying it showed a lack of respect for local people.
“In my view, the council should be showing more respect to the people of Llangefni and Anglesey,” said the mayor, Cllr Margaret Thomas during last Monday’s meeting.
“As ratepayers surely we should all be given a say on this? With all due respect, a site just
behind a chicken factory isn’t the ideal place to hold weddings is it?
“In my view it should stay where it is but the local authority should also be more open with us.
“If they asked the public what they think, what would the response be?”
In 2013, then-owners of the poultry processing plant, Vion, installed odour control equipment after local residents complained to the Environment Agency over the smells emanating from the facility.
Despite this, Cllr Non Parry claimed that the issue still persists, adding: “Anglesey council seems to have forged ahead with this without asking anyone.
“Imagine someone’s wedding day, we all know about the smell that can arise from the abattoir.
“It can be terrible, how many times have we had to raise this issue over the years? It could ruin someone’s big day.”
The new owner of the Shirehall has not yet been identified, with the town council understood to have several years remaining on the lease it holds on the chamber and clerk’s offices.
Despite this, members used Monday’s town council meeting to request an urgent meeting with Anglesey Council to discuss the decision in further detail.
Cllr Dylan Rees, who sits on both the town and county council, added: “While we’re not against the sale of the Shirehall per-se, it does concern me that they’re moving a vital service away from the centre of Llangefni to an industrial estate that’s not convenient nor very suitable for people wanting to get married or register a death for example.
“I suggest we ask people what they would feel about getting married on the industrial estate. Would that impact on them in any way? Some feedback could help our cause.”
In further correspondence, the local authority confirmed that it had adhered to its asset disposal policy throughout the policy and that eight expressions of interest had been received for the Shirehall.
Anglesey’s Head of Regulation and Economic Development, Dylan Williams, said: “The Council’s Asset Management Procedures Policy (2016) was adhered to during the marketing and sale of the Shire Hall in Llangefni.
“Llangefni Town Council, as a prospective buyer and existing tenant, was kept regularly updated about the situation and met our officers on site. No formal consultation process was required.
“The building’s sale was recommended by our Land and Assets Group and approved by the Executive on July 16 2018.”
“The new Anglesey Business Centre setting is a modern, spacious building with ample parking onsite.
“Importantly, it has also been endorsed by the UK’s General Register Office.”
It’s understood that Llangefni Shirehall will remain as the main office for the registration of births, marriages, civil partnerships and deaths on the island until the premises move in September.
Built in a decorative Jacobethan style with classical detail and a pitched slate roof, the main part of the Shirehall was built in 1899 by O M Roberts & sons of Porthmadog to a design by Lloyd Williams of Denbigh at a cost of £4,453. A BUSINESS focused on pets and their health has been praised for looking after its people.
PetPlace has been awarded a prestigious Investors in People Silver Award.
The company – which has stores in Ruthin, Chirk, Mold, Llangefni and Abergele, and a head office in Mochdre – has excelled in multiple areas, including leadership and management.
Managing director Sion Pritchard and the team have motivated staff to achieve objectives and use their initiative, shown strength in designing job roles that will take the business forward, and encouraged employees to work collaboratively and understand the markets and communities in which the organisation works. Sion paid tribute to their dedicated workforce and said while their focus is on supplying top-quality products and services for animals, they are committed to realising the potential of all staff.
“I am incredibly proud of everyone at PetPlace, they work tirelessly to support our loyal customers and provide the best possible service for people and their pets,” he said.