Rescue launched to save stricken dairy

Jun 12 2009 by William Green, The Journal

A RESCUE mission to save a North East dairy is underway amid fears it could close with hundreds of workers losing their jobs.

The workforce at the Blaydon dairy and development agency One North East are understood to be working together to find a solution following the sudden collapse of Dairy Farmers of Britain (DFOB).

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn is also “pushing to do all he can” to stave off imminent closure of the DFOB site following pressure from Blaydon MP Dave Anderson.

Fears grew yesterday that DFOB’s receivers could announce the dairy would shut before a deal to save the site could be reached.

Around 260 workers are employed on the site with 288 farmers involved in the supply chain.

Blaydon MP Dave Anderson raised concerns about the future of the site in the Commons yesterday as more than a dozen of his colleagues expressed alarm about the wider impact of DFOB’s failure.

“This morning I have heard from the dairy in Blaydon, my constituency, that the RDA, the banks and the local workforce are working together to try and avoid the closure, which could happen tonight.

“The only group that isn’t doing its bit is Defra. Can we please have what the Secretary of State offered, an updated statement to the House as things develop,” said the Labour MP.

Leader of the Commons Harriet Harman said the issue needed to be “looked at straight away”.