Velmur Ltd Pulled out of Public Meeting in South Witham Lincolnshire

Date: 2010-06-08

Velmur Ltd contacted Martin Wilkins - the Chairperson at 4.00pm yesterday (7th June) and they pulled out of the meeting!  They dropped off the presentation material at the Chairpersons house and informed him that they were withdrawing from the public meeting as they were apprehensive about the public attention and didn't want CIWF, Vegans and the like attending and disrupting and hijacking the meeting. 

Velmur Ltd contacted Martin Wilkins - the Chairperson at 4.00pm yesterday (7th June) and they pulled out of the meeting!
They dropped off the presentation material at the Chairpersons house and informed him that they were withdrawing from the public meeting as they were apprehensive about the public attention and didn't want CIWF, Vegans and the like attending and disrupting and hijacking the meeting. 

There were no representatives present from either Velmur Ltd or Buckminster Estates - those present were disgusted

Approximately 200 people attended the public meeting in South Witham Village Hall expecting to have a question and answer debate, but were shown a slide presentation of the proposed dairy plans, this including  statistics based on 2007 and 2008, also UK Dairy Statistics from 2003 and 2008.  It also showed what the inside of the farm would look like with slides based on other intensive dairy farms, including a rotary cleaning brush, which the cows could go and rub against!  They plan to spread slurry in a 5 mile radius of South Witham.

Regarding employment - Construction - 120 Jobs, Full-time - 32 Jobs, Research - 5 Jobs.  Concerns were raised regarding employment and the view was that there would be no work for local people.

The dairy will cost approximately £20 M to build (but the cost is estimated at £30M) - the dairy will be situated 300 metres from the nearest house.

There was media coverage throughout, and a TV crew from Look North were present for most of the meeting. 
There were 6 vegans present - hardly a threat! 1 lived in the village, 2 were myself and my husband, another lived in North Witham, 1 in Stamford and the final one was a representative of WSPA.  Charlie Wardale and myself represented Vegan Lincs and we put forward some good comments  answered some questions based on the Nocton Dairy which was relevant to South Witham - environmental issues etc.  Karen Watchus was representating Nocton Village and Angela Bates - Trust Board Member from The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust was also present and raised concerns.  A number of villagers put forward a well informed  argument opposing the dairy farm, and in a show of hands nearly everyone voted against the development - with only a couple not voting either way. 

Velmur Ltd are apparently not interested in a public meeting, but requested a further meeting with South Witham Parish Council once they have produced revised plans

Story by: Linda Wardale

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