East Sussex MPs convened a meeting with Mark Spencer MP, Minister of State for Food, Farming and Fisheries, following the closure of the last remaining abattoir in East Sussex.
The Tottingworth abattoir in Heathfield closed in January, leaving up to 500 farmers without provision for meat slaughter. This left farmers deeply concerned about the impact of this closure on their businesses and animal welfare. With the nearest alternative facilities in Ashford and Essex, the longer journey times to travel to an abattoir are having impacts on farmers' time, transport costs, and animal welfare.
At the meeting, the MPs were informed that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), have funding opportunities available for farmers who would like to open a new abattoir themselves, under the Farming Investment Fund. A suitable new site would have to be found, with planning permission granted, and a business plan would need to be presented to DEFRA.
The potential for mobile abattoir provision was raised during the meeting, but MPs were told that this option is impractical as storage is required for the produced meat.
The MPs are now calling for farmers with an interest in pursuing a new abattoir to come forward with ideas for DEFRA.
Nusrat Ghani said: "I appreciate the challenges that the closure of Tottingworth abattoir brings to our local farmers in Wealden and I am pleased that following my repeated representations to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, this important meeting to discuss support for local farmers was secured. Abattoirs are key in supporting rural economies such as that of Wealden and enabling our farmers to sell their meat locally. I welcome the Minister's commitments to maintaining good animal health and welfare and assurances that government support is available to farmers who wish to open their own abattoir facility. I look forward to receiving further information regarding the matter, which I will be sure to share with Wealden farmers."
