From the House of Lords to Cleethorpes - Green Party baroness joins salmon factory demonstration

 

It has all gone quiet on the Cleethorpes salmon-rearing factory project - or has it? Protesters are still more than ready to make their voices heard

RESIDENTS opposed to an intensive salmon-rearing factory being built near their homes in Cleethorpes have been reminded that they are not forgotten.

Last Wednesday morning, they were joined by executives of two animal welfare pressure groups - Animal Equality and Feedback Global - for an impromptu demonstration outside the site earmarked for the controversial £75-million project.

Also present to back the protest was the former leader of the Green Party, Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, who was on a fact-finding visit to this part of Lincolnshire.  

It was back in November 2023 that North East Lincolnshire Council  granted planning permission for the venture proposed by start-up company Aquacultured Seafoods Ltd.

Although force-breeding wild fish in artificial conditions is widely reckoned to be unnatural - not to say downright barbaric - the council believes the job-creating potential of the scheme trumps  animal welfare considerations.

However, no work has started on the development, and it is uncertain whether Aquacultured Seafoods has secured sufficient funds to proceed.

In the meantime, the planning consent awarded by NELC has been put on hold by the courts pending the outcome of a judicial review that was held in Leeds on February 12.

All parties are still awaiting a decision from Deputy High Court Judge Karen Ridge on whether it was appropriate for the authority's planning officers to advise planning committee members to disregard ethical considerations in reaching their decision.

                                                          

Cleethorpes bird and butterfly expert John Nelson - here chatting with Animal Equality director Abigail Penny - is vexed about the prospect of development occurring on a site of high wildlife interest  

For pity's sake! Natasha Hurley, of Feedback Global, is appalled at the prospect of what she believes will involve extreme cruelty

                                                                       

Green Party politician Baroness Natalie Bennett  outlines her deep concerns about the scheme