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Alpaca farmer's fears
AS PART of the campaign 'End this Landfill Lunacy' the County Times is speaking to the people who are set to be worst affected.
This week we spoke to John Potts, owner of one of Europe's leading alpaca stud farms, The Alpaca Stud near Ashington, which is under threat of closure from the proposed dump on adjoining land at Laybrook Brickworks.
Bowford Farm presently has approximately 600 alpacas, with the breeding females giving birth to their young 'cria' from March to October.
Bordering their grazing land is the proposed tip at Laybrook Brickworks.
One of the most alarming problems is landfill attracts crows, seagulls and magpies, which find the eyes of the crias a tasty feast and will stop at nothing to peck out the eyes of the newborns.
Additionally, rubbish tip emissions can cause respiratory problems in alpacas while bird droppings and rodents spread other potentially deadly diseases from the pit.
If, as proposed, the landfill operators Cory Environmental Ltd also accept rubbish from London, there is the increased threat of TB contamination which is quickly picked up and spread by badgers and is fatal to alpacas.
Mr Potts, who rents the site from landowner John Chalmers, said: "A breeding operation adjacent to the proposed tip would be untenable.
"No breeder who entrusts their valuable alpacas to us for mating would allow them near the area. The physical harm and blight that would be caused to a herd worth several million pounds is unthinkable."
Producers of alpacas can sell every ounce of fleece – of a quality more than a match for cashmere – making alpaca farming a positive form of agricultural diversification encouraged by DEFRA.
Bowford Farm also supplies many families throughout Sussex and beyond with wonderful family pets.
Mr Potts added: "I can only assume Cory hope the problem will go away as they have no answers to it - I can assure them it won't.
"We will take all possible legal steps, here and in Europe, to stop this poisonous dump in the Sussex countryside.
"The world has realised that dumping is unacceptable and many countries already have a zero dumping policy.
"For this small island with precious land resources to lag so far behind and now to face large and increasing fines from Europe is madness.
"The Government is busy penalising people for green bin offences and yet it stands by and lets dumping take place with huge damage to people's health. It is just not necessary.
"The technology exists and is in use to use domestic, commercial and industrial waste to produce badly needed energy supplies."
The public consultation period regarding the proposed landfill site has now begun and Mr Potts hopes anyone who cares about the Sussex countryside and the fate of these beautiful animals will follow the County Times' lead and urgently object to West Sussex County Council.
You can find out more about the proposed landfill at Laybrook and what you can do by visiting www.nolaybrooklandfill.co.uk.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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