Angry Welsh farmers stage go-slow tractor protest
© SusieL Frustrated Welsh farmers have staged a “go-slow” tractor protest as part of an ongoing row with the Welsh government over its farming policies.
A convoy of tractors and 4x4s brought the A48 road between Carmarthen and Pont Abraham to a standstill for several hours this afternoon (Friday 16 February).
The vehicles carried placards, including “No Farmers, No Food” and one transported a large cow effigy with a sign declaring, “We not taking no bull from Welsh government”.
See also: Editor’s View: Fine job so far by Welsh protest organisers
Farmers in Wales are furious about the Welsh government’s proposals in its post-Brexit Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) which require all farms to allocate at least 10% of their land to tree cover, plus a further 10% to wildlife habitats, to qualify for subsidies.
Meanwhile, livestock farmers are incensed by the Labour administration’s bovine TB policy and its failure to tackle the reservoir of disease in wildlife, and nitrate vulnerable zone rules which will limit muck spreading periods on farms and require them to spend thousands of pounds to upgrade slurry storage facilities.
Dyfed-Powys Police released a statement this afternoon saying they were expecting the disruption to last a number of hours in the Pensarn area, and it urged motorists to consider alternative routes.
A force spokesman said: “Traffic is moving very slowly along the A48 eastbound from Pensarn as a result of a number of tractors on the road.
“We believe they intend to travel to Pont Abraham, before heading back towards Carmarthen along the westbound carriageway.
“If you are planning on travelling between the two locations this afternoon, please consider changing your route or journey time to avoid delays. We anticipate the disruption will last at least until 2.30pm.”
Wrexham city protest
The go-slow protest follows a tractor protest outside rural affairs secretary Lesley Griffiths’ constituency office in Wrexham on Monday (12 February) and two mass farmer gatherings in Welshpool and Carmarthen.
Following the protest in Wrexham, North Wales Police charged one man with criminal damage. The unnamed man, aged in his 30s, has been bailed to appear at Wrexham Magistrates Court on 27 February.
Mass farmer protests against anti-farming policies and the green agenda have been carried out across central Europe for a number of weeks and months, including recent large demonstrations in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.