Anthrax fears overshadow milk plant
22 June 2000
Anthrax fears overshadow milk plant
By Johann Tasker
FEARS of a deadly anthrax outbreak threaten to overshadow the development of a 40 million dairy processing plant by United Milk.
The plant is planned for the outskirts of Westbury, Wiltshire. Planning permission for the site is expected to be decided next month.
But some local people are worried because it is about two miles downstream from an old tannery, where hides infected with anthrax are said to be buried.
Anthrax is one of the deadliest diseases known to man. It mainly affects herbivorous animals like sheep and cattle, but can affect humans too.
Infected livestock convulse and die from anthrax toxins within a few days. Human cases are rare, but can occur in farmers who handle infected animals.
Four years ago, at least three cattle died of anthrax on Storridge Farm – close to the milk factory planned for the North Acre industrial estate.
Anthrax spores – which had lain dormant for years – are thought to have been disturbed by ditch-dredging on Biss Brook, which runs close to the site.
Opponents of the dairy development are led by Julia Underwood, a former dairy farmer who runs a group called Unite to Protect the Rural Area West of Westbury.
She said: “This site has been approved for industrial use, but we feel this kind of development is inappropriate because of the anthrax.”
Ms Underwood believes that consumers will be unwilling to buy milk products from a plant built on land associated with anthrax outbreaks.
David Barwell, principle environment officer for West Wiltshire District Council, said he was taking the matter very seriously.
“We are going to try and look at our records, but I am not personally aware of anything on this particular site which has given rise to problems.
John Irving, a Wiltshire County Council independent councillor, had one suspected case of anthrax on his farm last year.
He said: “I am quite sure that if there are anthrax spores in that area – and there may well be – the technology involved in the milk processing will be internal and wont be affected by what is outside.”
United Milk claims the plant will create 200 jobs. Funds permitting, the 800-million-litre plant could be fully functional by the end of next year.
A spokeswoman for the company said: “My understanding of anthrax is that there couldnt be any possible health risks.”
The Westbury tannery went out of business in 1983. But sporadic outbreaks of anthrax have been recorded in the Westbury area over the past 40 years.
In 1942, the British government exploded an anthrax canister on the Scottish Island of Gruinard as a biological warfare experiment.
The spores were still alive 40 years later. The Ministry of Defence finally declared it safe for crofters to return in 1988.