Animal welfare campaigners protesting outside The Port of Ipswich West Bank Terminal as an animal transporter arrives.

Ipswich: Authorities’ frustration over animal exports

Paul Geater Thursday, September 27, 2012
7:28 PM

AUTHORITIES serving the town have insisted there is nothing they can do to halt exports of live animals through the town.

The first shipment of live sheep through the West Bank terminal since 2007 took place last week, and there are reports that two or three shipments a week could take place during the autumn.

The move has angered Ipswich council, whose leader David Ellesmere due to address tonight’s protest meeting at the Town Hall.

Mr Ellesmere said: “The borough has no jurisdiction over what happens at the port any more. The port was privatised in the 1990s and we cannot do anything about what is carried through there.

“The situation is different to that at Ramsgate where Thanet Council owns the port.”

He was angry that the name of Ipswich was now being associated with a business most people consider to be very distasteful.

He added: “I am sure many local people will want to express their views which is why I shall be at the meeting.”

The trading standards department at the county council does have a role in monitoring live exports, but only if called in by the government’s animal health laboratory.

A spokeswoman for the county said: “Suffolk Trading Standards, in conjunction with government vets working for the Animal Health service, will ensure that the exports comply with all of the current legal requirements and that the welfare of the animals is of an acceptable standard.

“It is important to stress that the Animal Health service will take the lead in this respect, calling our Trading Standards service in as and when necessary if any irregularities come to light.”

Tonight’s meeting at the Town Hall starts at 6.30pm.

There will be speakers from the RSPCA and Compassion in World Farming after Mr Ellesmere’s welcome to the organisations.

n Should live animal exports be outlawed? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail starletters@archant.co.uk