Cheese factory axed
Published on 24/12/2007

PLANS for a groundbreaking £70m cheese factory have been scrapped – leaving the future of 150 Cumbrian dairy farmers in limbo.

Dutchman Ronald Akkerman has pulled out of the venture at Carlisle’s Kingmoor Park after four years building up the idea – and just three weeks after its official launch.

His holding company has sold the entire share capital of West Lakes Dairy Park (WLDP) as a going concern to Cheshire-based Meadow Foods after deciding the factory idea was no longer viable.

Farmers eager to build and secure the future of Cumbria’s dairy industry say they are angry and shocked and now face uncertainty about the future when their current milk supply contracts expire in March.

But it is understood Meadow Foods are keen to grow and take the business forward and that West Lakes Dairy Park will continue to operate as an independent entity, although it is not clear what will happen to locally-employed staff.

WLDP has an office at the Lillyhall business centre near Workington.

The tightening of the debt markets is cited as the reason for the sale, a matter aggravated by concerns from financial backers and lenders, according to a statement obtained by the News & Star.

A new cheese factory putting Carlisle on the global map was set to be housed in existing buildings at Kingmoor Park after controversial plans to put it in west Cumbria close to a proposed waste facility handling nuclear material were ditched.

More than 200 farmers attended the launch earlier this month, along with Mr Akkerman and civic leaders.

Bromfield farmer Harold Armstrong is chairman of the producers group which supplies milk to WLDP. He said: Mr Armstrong, who is also the vice-chairman of the National Farmers Union’s North West dairy board, said: “We are extremely shocked to here that WLDP has sold to Meadow Foods.

“The most disappointing thing is that this was never just a milk contract to many farmers who signed up to WLDP. It was a means of supporting their future and that of the industry’s with a state of the art cheese factory.

“I have been in contact with Meadow Foods and we are meeting with them in the next few days to clarify the position of the farmers.”

Meadow Foods will honour the current contracts at the priced agreed.

Managing director Paul Deakin said: “When it became clear to the shareholders of WLDP that current market conditions meant that their cheese factory project was no longer viable, they approached us to secure the future of the contracts they have put in place with their Cumbrian dairy farm suppliers.

“As a long-term, growing and financially stable dairy ingredients business, Meadow Foods is in a strong position to ensure that the contracts are honoured and farmers continue to get an attractive return for their milk.”

“Meadow Foods has confirmed that it intends to maintain WLDP’s milk price and new payment terms in the current milk year.”

Mr Akkerman was not available for comment but a statement obtained by the News & Star said he and his family “regret their departure from the UK dairy industry’” It also thanked those who had supported him.

It also said that the sale had been triggered by the following developments:

The current credit crunch has made raising the borrowing for a project of the size envisaged far more difficult;

This problem is aggravated by concerns amongst lenders about the extreme volatility of dairy markets;

The WLDP board has concluded that it is in the interests of all its producers and staff members to sell to a strong partner in the dairy business, while retaining our own identity;

We have been working with Meadow Foods since we started trading and the company is already buying a significant amount of our milk;

Meadow Foods has a strong presence in the industry with good manufacturing facilities and

Meadow Foods has led recent price increases to milk producers and currently pays amongst the best farm gate prices in the UK.

Milk prices have been rising month on month throughout the year as the world experiences a shortage of milk and milk products.

West Lakes Dairy Park collected its first milk from farms three months ago just as Mr Akkerman announced to Cumbrian farmers he would pay 27 pence per litre, one of the highest prices around.

Cumbria produces in excess of 800m litres of milk each year. Around 25 per cent was set to go to West Lakes Dairy Park.

Taken from The News & Star / [Link] / [Back to top]

City 'shopping heaven'
Published on 01/12/2007

By Julian Whittle
Political editor

CONSULTANTS brought in to work on Carlisle Renaissance say Carlisle can be “shopping heaven” and should model itself on Chester.

Experts from Gillespies – one of Britain’s leading landscape architect, urban design and planning consultancies – presented their ideas to county councillors this week.

They argued that Carlisle has “grand and gracious buildings” but looks “dated” and must change to compete with other towns and cities in the region.

Gillespies’ associate Sally Nash said: “You should be comparing yourself to Chester.

“The centre [of Chester] is full of people and highly pedestrianised, a shopping heaven with a historic core.

“There is no reason why you cannot be like Chester.”

She added: “We are very excited by the potential of Carlisle to build on what you already have, which is strong.

“There is room for change and high-quality intervention to put you up there with the best of the cities in the North West and throughout Britain.”

Gillespies’ ideas include making it easier to move around and making the city centre a more attractive place to visit at night.

The consultants want to remove clutter from the street scene, improve approaches to the city centre and, in particular, enhance Court Square by the railway station.

Ms Nash said: “When you arrive in the centre, it’s a fantastic place.

“But as you come up the A6 and Botchergate, is that the approach you want to an attractive city from the motorway?”

Jim Gibson, a partner in Gillespies, said: “We know what we’re doing. We’re going to do a good job for you to help re-energise your city.”

Carlisle Renaissance was drawn up as a response to the 2005 floods. It involves major redevelopments in Rickergate and Viaduct Estate.

County councillors meeting on Tuesday approved what could be the first Renaissance scheme to see the light of day.

The £840,000 project would create a new pedestrianised area and one-way traffic system for the area between English Street and the cathedral.

The plan already has the backing of the city council.

If it goes ahead as envisaged, there will be no disc parking in Castle Street, Fisher Street, Finkle Street and Abbey Street. The only on-street parking spaces will be reserved for residents, special-permit and disabled-badge holders.

St Mary’s Gate and parts of Castle Street and Fisher Street will close to traffic except for delivery vans.

And a new one-way system will force vehicles to enter the area from Market Street and leave via West Walls.

A consultation will start next month before a final decision is taken in the new year.

Labour’s Reg Watson said: “This is an attempt to improve the city centre.

“I think it will work. We need to go through the consultation process and, if necessary, rethink parts of it.”

Taken from The News & Star / [Link] / [Back to top]

Long live our festival funds

Published on 01/12/2007

Cumbria is gaining a worldwide reputation for the quality and diversity of its music festivals so it would be disastrous if the plug had been pulled on Brampton Live.

This looked to be on the cards when organisers were faced with a double blow: The threat of a significant cut in funding from Carlisle City Council – plus matched funding – and the coincidental loss of other grant money.

The festival began in 1995 with no budget and an audience of 350.

Since then it has attracted many world class stars such as Steve Earle, Suzanne Vega, Richard Thompson, and Ralph McTell and this year’s sell-out festival drew 3,000-plus people despite heavy rain and mud.

Festivals such as Brampton Live, Maryport Blues and Solfest help put our county on the map as well as boosting the local economy.

As well as attracting top stars to the area, they provide a key platform for local talent and add to the entertainment mix vital in persuading young people to remain in Cumbria.

Now council leader Mike Mitchelson says ways will be found to ensure Brampton Live does not fall by the wayside.

This assurance is extremely welcome.

Killing off the festival would be a big step backwards culturally and economically and would run counter to the spirit of Carlisle Renaissance and other county regeneration initiatives.

Taken from The News & Star / [Link] / [Back to top]