AMs gather evidence at BSW Timber, Powys

Members of a Welsh Assembly committee have visited Powys timber firm BSW, as part of an inquiry into Wales’ forestry sector.
Mid and West Wales AM Joyce Watson, a member of the environment and sustainability committee, said the visit to Wales’ largest single site sawmill at Newbridge-on-Wye was “informative”:
“As a committee, we are looking at how Natural Resources Wales has managed the public forest estate and worked with the forestry sector since it was established last year.
“Sustainable forest management is about striking a balance between commerce and conservation. As a country, we need to manage and cultivate new and established forests, but we also need to support our thriving timber industry.
“I was delighted to meet mill manager David Burd, Hamish Macleod and Gavin Adkins. The committee got to see first-hand the investment the company is making – £6 million over the past six years. When the project is completed in two years’ time it will create 17 new jobs and significantly increase production at the site – good news for the business and good news for the local area.”
Founded in 1848, BSW opened its Newbridge site in 1981. It employs more than 140 staff. The company, which is a member of the Timber Trades Federation and the UK Green Building Council, has six sawmills in the UK and one in Latvia, and supplies sawn timber products to customers in the construction, DIY, pallet and packaging, fencing and garden products sectors.