Ken Skates AM welcomes Sainsbury's go-ahead

Clwyd South Assembly member Ken Skates has welcomed a Denbighshire Council decision to approve a new supermarket in Llangollen.

Sainsbury's will now build a new store on Berwyn Street which will enable Llangollen's largest employer Dobson & Crowther to move its printing works to what Mr Skates says is an urgently needed new facility at the Cilmedw site in the town.

The AM said the move would not only help protect around 100 printing jobs in Llangollen but hopefully be the start of greater investment in the Dee Valley.

Mr Skates said: "The most important thing throughout this whole process has been to make sure we secured the good quality printing jobs we already have at Dobson & Crowther. 

 

"The company have badly needed a new, modern manufacturing site for many years and now they can plan their future around this move.

“The campaigners on both sides of the argument have argued passionately throughout and it was clear, from early on in this process, that there was never going to be an easy answer. However, everyone has had their say and I’m pleased at the decision that was taken and believe it is the right one for the town of Llangollen.

“A significant number of jobs will now be created at the Sainsbury's store and this will be a vital boost to the town during the toughest recession we have seen in a generation. This will hopefully be the start of brighter things to come.

“What I’ve been calling for during my time as an AM is for more investment, jobs and skills training so we can give young people living in the Dee Valley a chance of a decent future. An enormous pool of talent exists in the valley, from Cefn Mawr through to Corwen and the opening up of the Cilmedw site offers the potential to attract more highly skilled jobs into the region so young people aren’t forced to move away for work.

“I'm engaging constructively with the Welsh Government on how we can further grow the local economy in this area and I have invited the Minister for Business and Enterprise on a visit to see some of the important strategic employers we need to encourage in the Dee Valley.”