WORK is ongoing to reopen a popular Vale of Clwyd site.
Meifod Wood Products, on Denbigh's Colomendy Industrial Estate, is one of four Denbighshire County Council businesses that provides real life working environments for the personal and social development of people supported by the Learning Disability Service.
The business has not re-opened since the end of the Covid-19 lockdowns, although the county council is reassuring residents that work is continuing towards Meifod's eventual reopening.
A spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said: “We know how much the community values Meifod.
"The council’s cabinet has given a commitment to reopen Meifod as a council service, with additional investment.
"The reopening plans have been informed based on feedback from those using the service, officers and a task and finish group made up of elected members.
“We want to reassure citizens that attend Meifod and their families that work is currently ongoing at the site to bring it back up to readiness for reopening.
"This includes work to help improve the heating system and provide better air quality flow in the building to safeguard against Covid-19.
“It is our intention that all interested parties will continue to be kept informed about plans for re-opening Meifod.”
READ: Update on Meifod re-opening
Denbigh council members Cllr Rhys Thomas and Cllr Mark Young are both delighted that a contract has been awarded to a local firm to carry out essential building work so that Meifod can re-open soon.
"As ward members and as supporters of Meifod we are both asking local residents and businesses to be ready to support Meifod Wood when it re-opens," said Cllr Thomas.
"The best way of supporting this special place is by buying their great wood products and telling others about the important work that Meifod does with adults with learning needs."
Last summer, Denbighshire County Council launched an engagement exercise for Meifod, seeking the views of current users and stakeholders.
Delyth Lloyd Williams is one of the mothers who has been lobbying the council to re-open Meifod.
"My daughter loved going to Meifod," said Delyth.
"It was her routine and she loved being in a work environment and then getting a token wage slip at the end of the week.
"I know that workers ask family members every day ‘when can we go back to Meifod’ and every morning they have no tell them ‘not yet’."
Delyth said that family and friends of workers had set up the group Ffrindiau Meifod.
"While things take time, the individuals are really feeling it.
"When it does reopen, there will be a lot of smiling, happy faces.
There's a possibility Meifod could re-open before the end of April, although work is ongoing.
"It's just such a positive thing," added Delyth.
"In my daughter's case, there's nowhere like Meifod.
"At Meifod, she can go in and make things.
"We have got a bench in the garden with 'made by Rhiannon' on it, which is huge."
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