A North Wales sawmill that was closed in March has reopened after being bought by local timber merchant Corwen Forestry.
Gwyddelwern Saw Mill in Denbighshire was closed after it ran into trouble sourcing raw materials from Wales, even looking to import logs from Scotland before it closed, with debts of £500,000 and 52 employees losing their jobs.
However, Corwen Forestry has now bought the mill’s site and assets for £600,000 and has restarted operations at the facility.
Around 10 people are currently employed at the mill, which will now operate under the Corwen Forestry banner, with the number expected to swell to 20 and some former employees returning, Corwen Forestry director Harry Lloyd said.
Mr Lloyd also said that the sawmill would open up “a new market” for Corwen and that it would create further avenues of expansion for the company.
“When you invest, a few doors will often open,” said Mr Lloyd. “You find that there are other things that you have to do when you expand and the sawmill will create a new market for us so will help the company.”
The sawmill should be fully operational within six months, with Mr Lloyd expecting it to be processing 400-500m3 of timber a week.
