Dairy protest leader arrested
2 February 2001
Dairy protest leader arrested
By John Burns
FARMERS for Action chairman David Handley has been arrested during protests outside Dairy Crests Severnside plant, near Bristol.
Mr Handley, who was voted personality of the year 2000 by FARMERS WEEKLY readers, was held on Thursday (01 February) night at the depot gates.
He was taken to Stroud police station in Gloucestershire, where he was charged with obstructing the highway and released to appear before Stroud magistrates on 09 February.
Mr Handley then returned to continue the protest at Severnside.
Two other protesters were also arrested, but released later without charge.
FFA is protesting against Dairy Crests refusal to increase producers milk price from 01 January. Instead, it offered a one-off 0.5ppl “special payment” for February.
On Friday (02 February) Mr Handley said protests would continue until producers saw an acceptable price increase on the table.
Other Dairy Crest/Unigate plants picketed by FFA on Thursday included Aspatria in Cumbria; Nuneaton, Warwickshire; and Maelor in north-east Wales.
Plants in the West Country were also targeted with protests at Chard in Somerset; Totnes, Devon; and Davidstow in Cornwall.
It is understood attempts are continuing to find a format for a meeting acceptable to Dairy Crest management and FFA.
Mr Handley says the FFA has not objected to the National Farmers Union being at such a meeting.
But will insist that “some sensible numbers for a milk price increase are on the table before the meeting starts”.