A Blockade of the Unigate Dairy in Totnes is currently taking place. Farmers are not letting milk leave the dairy in protest at a further decrease in the price they get for milk.
From just after 8.00pm, no milk has left the Unigate Dairy in Totnes. Farmers are protesting about the fact that they are now only getting 16-17p per litre (supermarket retail 60p per litre)- around 5p less than it takes to produce. At the same time milk prices are going up in the supermarket.
Around 60 Farmers are currently at the dairy, and plan to stay there until it is too late for the milk to get on breakfast tables tommorow. To begin with there was some pushing and shoving between police and farmers as the first lorry attempted to leave. Initial Police aggression was countered by farmers and a couple of supporting locals move barriers across the road. The police were outnumbered (that makes a change!) and mad e no further attempt to move the protesters. I left the blockade at 11.30pm, and it was still holding strong, with no sign of police reinforcements.
Around 60 Farmers are currently at the dairy, and plan to stay there until it is too late for the milk to get on breakfast tables tommorow. To begin with there was some pushing and shoving between police and farmers as the first lorry attempted to leave. Initial Police aggression was countered by farmers and a couple of supporting locals move barriers across the road. The police were outnumbered (that makes a change!) and mad e no further attempt to move the protesters. I left the blockade at 11.30pm, and it was still holding strong, with no sign of police reinforcements.
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09.10.2003 08:07
Coppers in headlights
Police attempt to crush farmers
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