Protesters against animal slaughter form a barricade at Oaklands Park Farm
Farm barricaded in bid to keep out slaughterers
| ISSUE 2155 Thursday 19 April 2001 Daily Telegraph |
MORE than 100 protesters today barricaded the entrance to a farm vowing to keep out Ministry of Agriculture slaughterers.
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Protesters against animal slaughter form a barricade at Oaklands Park Farm |
Animals bred at Oaklands Park Farm in Gloucestershire have been earmarked for slaughter after neighbouring Bullo Farm was confirmed as having foot and mouth disease two weeks ago.
One campaigner, Ken Watson, 58, from Gloucester, said: "I'm totally against the idea of slaughtering these animals. It is completely unnecessary and we are prepared to stay here until Maff come."
The farm, which is run by the charity Camphill Village Trust and employs 48 people with learning disabilities, has so far tested negative for foot and mouth but is deemed to have had dangerous contact with the farm next door.
Managers of the farm have insisted their animals are healthy. Farm co-ordinator Pat Thompson said: "These animals are bred to work with people with learning disabilities who live at the farm. We have been calling the whole time to be allowed to vaccinate. This is what we believe we should be allowed to do."