OUTRAGE AT COURT JUDGEMENT

Cllr Michelle Fenner (TDC Cabinet Member).

Judgement regarding the live animal exports from Ramsgate Port.

The Judge ruled that:

- the Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA, which is a Government Agency, part of DEFRA) has the total authority regarding transport of live animals

- even though we are the port owners, we cannot intervene in what goes on within the transit in Ramsgate port.

The terrible events at the port in September 2012 showed clearly that it was AHVLA who took the decision to unload animals (very conveniently) in our port and not to take them to a so called nearby lairage facility.

The consequences of this unloading were that it caused havoc in OUR port and potentially put OUR staff safety at risk.

Then collectively as the TDC administration we decided to impose a temporary suspension of this trade whilst we sought re-assurances about the transport of animals from DEFRA.

We are now told by the Judge that in spite of these terrible incidents we should not have imposed this temporary ban and that we will have to compensate the unscrupulous transporters who, a few weeks ago, were convicted for cruelty to animals.

We are not just disappointed by this judgment, we are outraged: we are the port owners, we did not choose to have live animal exports going through our port, we did not cause the incidents of September 2012, we did not create this situation, and yet we are made to pick up the tab for the actions, the wrong decisions and the incompetence of Government Agencies.

We are looking into options for appeal against this unjust judgement.

We will also put the case to the local MP who has publicly agreed that the port does not have the correct facilities and has claimed she is also opposed to this vile trade. Now is the time for her to take action and get some results from Central Government.