PRODUCTION at Llandyrnog creamery is to close next week as concerns continue over the future of the site.

Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane and Assembly Member Ann Jones, Hugh Evans, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, Lead Member for the Economy and Corporate Governance, Merfyn Parry, councillor for Llandyrnog, met with a team of Arla Foods representatives, including the board director, to discuss the future of the site on Friday (July 13).

Arla Foods, one of the world’s largest dairy retailers, announced last month that it would be ending its Welsh cheddar production at the creamery as part of a new cost-cutting strategy.

The site's cheese production facilities will close on Thursday, July 26.

A councillor has said the company needs to save £600 million worldwide.

Mr Ruane said that the dairy retailer will wait until the UK Government’s Brexit report in October before making a decision on the future use of the site.

This runs in opposition to the concerns of the councillors at the meeting, who want to guarantee its long-term future.

Mr Ruane said: “The board confirmed that they will be waiting until the Government’s October report on Brexit before making any decisions.

“We stressed the need for communication and a working relationship throughout the process.

“Arla agreed to the establishment of a steering group to keep workers informed, and the need for trade unions to be at the table during the group’s discussions.

“We stressed the size of the loss of the creamery to the Vale of Clwyd economy; almost 100 of the best paid jobs in the county worth a total of £3 million a year.

“It is also nearly 100 years since the service opened – we want to preserve its history.

“When the dust settles, we hope to reopen the plant with other forms of production there.”

Cllr Merfyn Parry said: “We had a meeting following the news Arla was going to stop the production of Cheddar cheese at Llandyrnog.

“Arla said the decision had been made at the head office in Denmark, having been pushed by farmers to get more money for their produce.

“Arla said they £600 million of world wide efficiency cuts.

“Unfortunately Llandyrnog is a victim of these cuts.”

A follow-up meeting has been agreed for September and another in November.

In the meantime, all staff at the site will be made redundant apart from a skeleton team to maintain the site’s milk process.

Milk will come into the site as a collection point before being taken to the company’s Taw Valley or Lockerbie sites.

A jobs fair involving 20 local firms with vacancies will be held in August for staff looking to find work locally with a small number of workers and apprentices potentially relocating to other Arla sites.

Arla Foods were approached for comment.