Anglesey plans for life after Aluminium

Anglesey County Council is to host the first Anglesey Aluminium community action group meeting in Holyhead on Friday. Smelting operations at Anglesey Aluminium, which employs more than 500 people, are under threat of closure as its current power deal with Wylfa will expire at the end of September. A statutory 90 day consultation period is due to come to an end shortly. The new high-powered group will work to minimise the impact the potential closure of the Holyhead smelter will have on the workforce and community. Key stakeholders gathering at the Holyhead Town Hall will include the Anglesey Aluminium's Managing Director, David Bloor, Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, Albert Owen MP, Executive members and local county councillors, Unite union representatives, Welsh Assembly Government and Isle of Anglesey County Council offices and Holyhead Forward, together with other key advisory agencies. The action group has been set-up to look at ways of helping the workforce, community and company. Over the next few months, it will provide a forum for further dialogue with the company and local employment agencies with a clear focus and action plan. The meeting will be chaired by County Council Leader, Councillor Clive McGregor, who said, "The County Council has a duty of care to the workforce and the overall aim of the Anglesey Aluminium Community Action Group will be to work with the company and other key partners to identify ways of compensating for any job losses, minimise the impact on the local community and boost job prospects." The Anglesey Aluminium Community Action Group will meet at the Council Chamber, Holyhead Town Hall, at 2:30pm on Friday 3rd July 2009. The County Council and Anglesey Aluminium are continuing to work with the Welsh Assembly Government to identify and foster other business activities, leveraging available land and infrastructure at its site, including the jetty. This initiative will continue as part of any future activities at AAM. source:www.newswales.co.uk