2 Sisters: Welsh Government task force set up to support Anglesey poultry factory workers

A task force has been set up to support the community in Llangefni, Anglesey, after plans were announced to close a chicken factory in the area.

2 Sisters Poultry Limited, who run the plant on the island, revealed on Wednesday 25 January that it planned to cease operations at the site.

Although factory bosses said they would try to find alternative work for employees, they admitted redundancies are likely. 730 people work at the factory.

On Thursday 26 January, the Economy Minister Vaughan Gething announced the "immediate" establishment of a task force. This will be made up of bodies such as the local authority, Welsh Government, Business Wales and trade union representatives.

The group will meet for the first time on February 3.

In a statement Mr Gething said the task force will convene "to discuss a way forward" and offer support to affected employees and the local community.

He stressed that they will be looking at "all options, including the potential to continue with plant operations and safeguard these jobs if possible".

He added: "This is a clearly a worrying situation facing not just the workers, but the wider community. We are determined to do all we can and to pull all possible levers to offer support to people affected by these recent developments.

"I am determined to ensure that all parties work together in our efforts to deliver a sustainable future for the local economy."

Following the announcement that the site may close, a spokesperson for the company said the site is "old, one of our smallest sites and lacking space to be efficient".

It added that the cost to produce there is "higher and it would require significant investment to bring it up to the standards of our other factories."

The local MP, Virginia Crosbie, said rising energy costs are understood to be a "major part of the decision".

Employees who spoke to ITV Wales said many staff had worked at the site for more than 40 years.