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Press Release
Date: 17 February 2011
CAFFO’S REACTION TO WITHDRAWAL OF MEGA DAIRY PLANS
Local campaigners have been taking stock after Nocton Dairies pulled their latest application for the first industrial scale dairy in the UK.
Many are celebrating, whilst others are more cautious as the application for the pipeline, described as an ‘integral part’ of the dairy plans; designed to transport digestate from the dairy farm, is still active and there remains considerable uncertainty as to what will now be proposed for the site.
So as we, to quote Nocton Dairies, ‘...watch this space’... we’d like to make two points:
1. Nocton Dairies Ltd are now major landowners in our area. We would like to extend an invitation to them to meet with us and discuss any proposals they may have for the land. In this way we would aim to help them access local knowledge and expertise to ensure their plans would not only be appropriate for the land itself but would also benefit the local community and, in this way, build a relationship which puts the last 16 months behind us.
2. Whilst the failure of this application might be great news for campaigners, it does nothing to address the ongoing problems facing British dairy farmers.
We refute completely the claims by some that these so-called ‘super’ dairies are the way forward; they are not a solution to the problems facing the dairy sector but are a symptom of those problems – with the underlying issue being a farm gate price which is below the cost of production.
So we call for the whole dairy industry, especially the retailers, to ensure that dairy farmers get a fair share of the profits in the milk chain. We would suggest that as a first step, farmers should receive at least 50% of the retail price.
Finally, CAFFO would like to thank the hundreds of local villagers who joined forces to oppose this application, the many thousands of people nationwide who added their voices to ours, the hundreds of politicians who signed Early Day Motions or petitioned ministers on the issues, and all the national NGOs, conservation and pressure groups - especially Compassion in World Farming and WSPA - for their unfailing support and committed campaigning.
-ends-
For further detail on the economic issues, contact Peter Lundgren on 07751 112303 email peter@peterlundgren.co.uk Website: www.peterlundren.co.uk
Note to editors: CAFFO comprises more than 200 local campaigners from several of the villages adjoining the site of the proposed mega dairy
