MEP cloaks himself in Chew Valley Hide and Skin

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 14th Jan 2005

Local MEP Graham Watson will visit local company Chew Valley Hide and Skin on Monday (17th) to see for himself an employer whose business is threatened by Whitehall mandarins. Chew Valley Hide and Skin has been given until 31st January to erect new buildings or face closure under new rules about animal by-products.

MEP Graham Watson is furious about the way the new regulations are being enforced and has had exchanges with government ministers about the issues.

The rules require that animal by-products be tipped in covered areas - defined by government as areas with walls and a roof - which are easy to clean. Mr Dury's company uses shipping containers for the purpose. Graham Watson MEP argues that these meet the criteria and is challenging Environment Minister Margaret Beckett to recognise this.

"I've never seen a shipping container without four walls and a roof", he says.

"If your officials insist that Mr Dury puts up new buildings - with all the difficulties of getting planning consent in the Chew Valley - you run the risk of putting a good local business in jeopardy", the MEP has told Mrs Beckett.

"It is time you recognised the realities of rural life and started helping rather than hindering local enterprise".

ENDS

Note:

Graham Watson MEP will be available for interview on site, Chew Valley Hide & Skin Co Ltd, The Barton, Compton Martin, Bristol BS40 6JN between 0900 and 0930 on Monday 17th January. His time is restricted since he must then fly to Brussels for parliamentary commitments.