Handley: Light up the sky tonight

6 June 2001



Handley: Light up the sky tonight

By FWi staff

FARMERS are to light beacons on the eve of the General Election to protest against the governments handling of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The Farmers For Action pressure group has asked producers countrywide to build beacons and light them at 10pm on Wednesday (6 June).

Farmers For Action chairman David Handley said thousands of farmers had agreed to join the protest using the “very tool” that symbolised foot-and-mouth.

The beacons would send a visible message expressing British farmers dissatisfaction at the handling of the epidemic, he said.

Mr Handley added: “This crisis is far from over, and families are continuing to lose their livestock, both infected and clean to this disease.”

Many farmers are still waiting for compensation payments three months after having their livestock culled, he said.

The Driffield Show, which was due to be held on 18 July, has become the latest agricultural event to fall victim to the disease.

Continuing outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Yorkshire forced the cancellation of the event, said show society chairman, Chris Richardson.