Slaughterhouse loss ‘would be a disaster’

The old slaughterhouse. Farmers say it must be replaced.

FARMERS say it is vital that the States starts thinking about building a new slaughterhouse.

Commerce and Employment announced last week that the current building on the Castle Emplacement would have to close in December 2012 because of non-compliance with European animal welfare laws.

That raised concerns among farmers and butchers because the project has not been included in the States Capital Prioritisation Scheme. It is feared that if something is not done soon, Guernsey could be left without an abattoir.

Pig farmer Jim Jamouneau said it would be disastrous if the industry was left without a facility. ‘The States now have to be committed to farmers and private owners to produce something soon,’ he said. ‘They can’t just leave farmers high and dry.

‘We need something that will be modern and I don’t even think that it even needs to be that big.’

Mr Jamouneau said a perfect place for a new building would be at Longue Hougue.(from thisisguernsey)

Its about time the States sorted this problem out, the present laws for slaughter also need sorting...