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De your article highlighted "Livestock demo 1‘threat' (CM 1216 June).
We are a livestock haulage company which in the past has been involved in the conveyance of livestock to and from the Continent.
After reading this article, I along with my staff felt nothing but bitterness and disgust, to think that these protesters can come along from various walks of life, rnosi of whom I suspect are unemployed, claiming dole money, to which we as a company are contributing. They protest about something that the majority of them know nothing about. who have nothing else better to do, but put both animal and human lives at risk, by the throwing of missiles of all shapes and sizes, and generally performing in a very bizarre and unlawful way.
There are very strict rules and regulations involved in the conveyance of live animals and we as a company (along with many more I am sure) abide with these rule, and go about our job in a professional manner, investing money in special trailers, training staff etc. A statement made by the CIWF and printed in the article stated "We will not stop until this trade is ended". All of a sudden my company and livelihood is being dictated and run by a group of unknown persons, and to them I ask the following questions: • Are they prepared to pay mybills at the end of every month?
• Are they prepared to tell my staff they are redundant?
• Are they prepared to pay me a substantial amount of money for the loss of business?
Are they prepared to tell someone's relative, "I am sorry but the brick I threw through the lorry window has killed your si-rn or husband?" 1 think not.
In March of this year the EC imposed a ban on the export of British beef to the Continent, causing another serious blow to our industry, which makes the operation of the special ferry, which had been chartered solely for the transportation of livestock, completely unviable to operate.
I ask the Government, along with the Board of Trade and the EC committee, the following questions: • What financial help are you prepared to offer my company to compensate for the major, turnover/profit loss we have suffered over the past three years, caused through the ban on the export of British beef, and the total export problem we have been experiencing during this period?
• What steps are you going to take to eradicate these unlawful and damaging protests that are being forced upon us?
• As and when the ban is lifted, what financial help can you offer to reinstate the ferry for the transport of live animals to the Continent as the farmers and the hauliers are now not in the financial position they were to finance this operation?
I have worked in this industry for well over 60 years and have never experienced such a carnage that hauliers and farmers have been dragged into, and if we have total stoppage of livestock to the Continent then we shall have no choice but to look for compensation from the Government/EC etc towards the closure of a good, well-run, and—up to two years ago— a reasonably profitable company.
All we want to do is to be left alone to get on with our own business conducted in the professional way we always operate, without all this bureaucratic and stressful game that people are playing with our lives.
John Cooper, John Cooper Transport.