Farmers prepare to step up protests

17 March 2000



Farmers prepare to step up protests

by FWi staff

BATTLE lines are being drawn for another week of farmer demonstrations across England and Wales as hard-up producers once again highlight their plight.

North-east farmers and lorry drivers have organised a blockade of Newcastle-upon-Tyne city centre to protest about the cost of fuel and road tax.

The Hauliers and Farmers Alliance aimed to have 100 farm vehicles and 100 trucks crawling through the streets of central Newcastle on Saturday (18 March).

They want the regions major haulage firms to send a lorry and any which dont will subsequently be prevented from delivering goods to north-east farms.

Andrew Spence, who farms at Leadgate, County Durham, said the alliance had no option but to name and shame firms which would not join the protest.

The south-west will also see increased activity as well as sporadic blockades and lightning pickets, said Richard Haddock, spokesman for Farmers for Action.

“We will be lobbying bottling plants for two days,” he told Farmers Weekly. “Farmers milk will be allowed in and empty tankers out.”

Milk producers in Wales, are preparing to dumping more milk on Monday and Tuesday (20/21 March), said Monmouthshire farmer David Handley.

“Grass root [farmers] have made it clear that calm negotiations over gin and tonics with ministers, dairies and supermarkets are not enough,” he added.