Cumbria milk protest draws 200

2 messages

Originally from: lina

Cumbria milk protest draws 200
Source: FWi 01 October 2003

AROUND 200 disgruntled dairy farmers from Scotland and
Cumbria have gathered outside Dairy Crest's Aspatria
factory near Carlisle to protest about low milk
prices.

The two-hour protest on Wednesday, 1 October was the
first of six similar demonstrations around the
country.

The protest, involving members of the National Farmers
Union, NFU Scotland and Farmers for Action, was
peaceful, although tankers were prevented from
entering or leaving the site.

John Kinnaird, NFUS president, addressed the crowd
from the top of one of the stranded tankers.

It was abhorrent a company the size of Dairy Crest was
refusing to pass back the full 2p/litre price rise
that all the major retailers have said they are
prepared to pay for milk and cheese, he said.

As the protest continued, a union spokesman told
Farmers Weekly that farmers' anger was palpable and
the situation was not far from boiling over.

He added: "The worst thing is that Dairy Crest has
refused to send anyone out to address the farmers or
even to invite some of them inside to hear their
case."

Mr Kinnaird spoke to Drummond Hall, Dairy Crest’s
chief executive, on the morning of the protest.

According to the NFUS spokesman, Mr Hall said that the
farmer protest was 'unhelpful' especially since the
latest round of price negotiations had not yet
finished.

"That seemed to us to be a bizarre statement because
there is very little point in us protesting after the
negotiations have finished and contracts have been
signed," said the spokesman.

Protests are due to take place at five other Dairy
Crest sites during the course of the day.

These are Hartington, Derbyshire; Haverfordwest,
Pembrokeshire; Davidstow, Cornwall; Maelor, Wrexham
and Clwyd Frome, Somerset.

The NFU, NFU Cymru, NFUS and FFA have worked together
to organise the events.

Cumbria milk protest draws 200Source: FWi 01 October
2003

Originally from: mona parr

Approx the same number, 200, protested outside Glanbia Cheese Factory Lockerbie on Monday.
This was a very peaceful protest--perhaps why it did not attract a huge amount of publicity.