No temporary measures on the table as Jersey's abattoir remains closed

Tuesday 28 November 2023

Jersey's abattoir could remain closed for another two weeks, with temporary measures such as sending livestock to Guernsey for slaughter or using mobile facilities off the table.

Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet added that he expected the site to re-open on 10 December, but that the team were doing “all they can to bring that date forward”.

The abattoir was closed shortly before Storm Ciarán hit for routine maintenance, but suffered extensive damage to its roof, main structure and equipment during the storm.

Repair efforts have been complicated by the presence of asbestos which means a deep clean of the building is needed before the electrics can be fixed.

In response to Deputy Sam Mézec's question about support for farmers while the abattoir remains closed, Deputy Binet revealed that 25% of the roof needed to be replaced and that the slaughtering area was "badly affected" by asbestos.

Pictured: Deputy Binet said he had been actively involved in the repair efforts.

He continued: "Every effort is being made to open the abattoir as quickly as possible, but there has been a shortage of scaffolding, which can be expected at this time.

"We tried to import a mobile unit in the meantime, but that wouldn't have arrived until after the abattoir could be reopened, and outsourcing to Guernsey is complicated, because they could only take some kinds of animals and that would have also taken too long."

Deputy Binet further outlined that upon re-opening, there would be 60 animals requiring slaughter, and staff have agreed to work overtime to clear the backlog within a week.

The only support he could give farmers affected by the closure, he said, would be subsiding feedstuffs for continuing weeks animals have to be maintained – an intervention that falls within the Economic Development Minister's remit.