Local butchers propose new abattoir facility

Proposals have been submitted by a conglomerate of local butchers, which could see a new, fit-for-purpose abattoir built in the county within the next two years.

Proposals put forward by Orkney Meat Processors Ltd (OMPL), have been accepted by the council to receive the £50,000 Challenge Fund launched by the local authority last December.

In the meantime, the butchers from OMPL are also in talks with the council to reopen the old facility at Hatston, Kirkwall, which was closed last January.

OMPL had been running a once-a-week service at the existing council-owned abattoir facility between 2012 and January. However, on January 11, the council, which had invested nearly £1 million to help keep the service running, announced that the facility would be closing with immediate effect, citing the building being too big for the number of animals going through and the need for further investment in the plant and equipment.

Thorfinn Craigie, of E. R. & T Craigie butchers — one of the four butchers involved in the OMPL group — has said they are looking at building a much smaller, fit-for-purpose facility. He said: “We’ve had a look at plans and sizes and we do have something in mind that we’re hoping to go for. It’s all coming together quite well.

“It will be a much smaller building — we’re looking at something will be 75ft by 45ft. It will be something that’s fit for purpose, financially viable, efficient and hopefully sustainable for the long term.

“The challenge fund money will now allow us to get a feasibility study done. That will make sure what we’re planning is viable and will be a sustainable project — we have to make sure what we’re doing breaks even and doesn’t lose money.

“We’re also hoping to get linked up with Orkney Auction Mart. For the mart, the loss of the abattoir was a huge loss — nearly as big as it was for us. So, we’re looking to work with them and use their lairage and have the building built on their land, which would be a huge asset and bonus for all of us.”

Mr Craigie also said OMPL is looking at arrangements for the new facility to use the equipment from the previous abattoir facility.

He said that OMPL are also looking to solve one of the problems they faced with the former abattoir, the disposal of waste, by having an incinerator built as part of the proposed new facility.