Comment posted Revised plans announced for new Kintyre creamery by kintyre1.
Unfortunately you have chosen to misrepresent the facts and instead turn to character assasination , how very sad .
kintyre1 also commented
- I am interested to see John in Kintyre talk of a £2million pound investment by the Scottish Gov and First Milk . My understanding and no doubt john will correct me if I am mistaken , is that up to 2 million pounds of European grant funding to be delivered by the Scottish Government is available for this project which begs the question , how much are First Milk contributing ?
My position on the Creamery is that I have serious doubts about it’s long term sustainability , with or without this investment and that I would prefer to see government take a more rounded view of development in Kintyre and agriculture in particular given that the present strategy is based on the Creamery and dairying only with grant funding poured into the milk sector and other farmers and their projects left with a few crumbs of support or none at all in many cases. In summary don’t put all your eggs in one shaky basket . - Hughie can you explain why milk is being tankered in to Campbeltown Creamery at huge cost ?
- If the number of producers is unimportant , why do the Scottish Government and First Milk put such emphasis on the number ? Could it be that they realise without a critical number of producers there is no infrastructure to support farmers eg vets ,feed merchants , dairy engineers etc
- Producers can be “committed and dedicated” one day and dead the next . It is clear from recent farm sales that no one is willing to come to Kintyre and take on a dairy farm , little wonder when producers here receive one of the poorest milk prices in Europe and have some of the highest costs .
- Morag can you explain why milk is being tankered into Kintyre everyday if as you claim there is as much milk as there was when there were 100 producers ?
Can you further tell us how many dairy cows there are in Kintyre now compared to a few years ago ,
and while you are about it tell us why Campbeltown cheese is being sold in Lidl supermarkets at a knock down price when it is claimed to be a premium product .
Recent comments by kintyre1
- HIAL May 2013 overall passenger numbers up 7.2% on 2012 but with some substantial falls
27% down – a shocking reduction , in large part down to the SNP’s heath service cuts , which mean more Kintyre patients are being put “round the road ” rather than the more acceptable air journey . Disgraceful . - Russell to make parliamentary statement on rural schools today
I doubt it very much too , however I don’t need any lectures on the working of small rural schools , having attended one for seven years .
While it is quite possible to have friends and work together happily with older and younger pupils , what happens when the child goes to Secondary School ? He/she goes alone not knowing anyone , is amongst people who have their friends of seven years and will forever be an outsider , is likely to be poor at team sports having never experienced a proper same aged team .
The parents opting to send their children to larger schools are doing so for the best of reasons and should not be judged for so doing . - Russell to make parliamentary statement on rural schools today
Anne , I thought that living in Southend , you’d be more in touch with the goings on at the primary school .To talk of one parent and her child is either deliberately misleading or you are unaware of the children who will be absent from the school when it resumes after the summer .
Can you tell us out of interest , how many people are employed at the school and how many pupils there are at present ? I am told there are ten employees . - Russell to make parliamentary statement on rural schools today
What’s the situation regards Southend Primary School ? see post above - Russell to make parliamentary statement on rural schools today
Campbeltown is a buzz with the news that yet more pupils already attending and children due to start school at Southend Primary School this autumn are being placed at schools in Campbeltown by their parents .
It appears that an increasing number of parents in the Southend area are deciding that having their children in classes of one or two pupils is against the interests of their offspring and are voting with their feet .
How a community campaign to preserve the school can be successful when it cannot convince a growing number of parents in it’s own community to commit to it suggests that parents are doing politicians’ job for them and that the days of this school are numbered .
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From Councillor John Semple:
It has been announced by First Milk and the Scottish Government that the future of dairy and cheese production in Kintyre has been secured for the long-term following the further intervention of the Scottish Government. Prolonged negotiations had been taking place with Tesco’s, who subsequently withdrew from a partnership arrangement with First Milk to build a new store on the existing creamery site. Tesco were awarded planning permission subject to the building of a new creamery. The new store will not now go ahead.
Commenting on the announcement, local SNP Councillor John Semple said –
“This is a welcome break for hardworking Kintyre farmers who depend on the Campbeltown Creamery, these families have been held in suspense over the last few months, they can now look forward to surety of a market for their milk.
“Local traders who questioned the impact of a Tesco superstore on business can also breathe a sigh of relief, but it will be a disappointment for consumers who had hoped to benefit from a wider choice of goods and consumables. My hope is that Tesco will now look at their existing site for further development. This site sits within the safety zone of the Campbeltown gasworks and is only suitable for limited types of development.”
Leader of the SNP group on Argyll and Bute Council, Robert MacIntyre, a dairy farmer himself said –
“This is great news for Kintyre farmers and for Argyll and Bute. The Campbeltown creamery is a significant employer and the products are well known across the country putting this area on the food map of the UK. The commitment shown by the Scottish Government towards this key producer is credit to a government that understands industry and rurality.”
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It’s surely good news that the future of the creamery is no longer tied to the decisions of a giant corporation that – whatever their benefit to the people of Campbeltown – have a reputation for single minded and ruthless pursuit of their own commercial interest, something not immediately apparent from their carefully tended public image.
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For Robert Wakeham: Indeed.
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Newsroom , I am surprised you have swallowed the “secures the future of 38 dairy farms” line being spun by the Scottish Government and First Milk . When the original plans were announced in November 2007 (remember the headline in the Campbeltown Courier – Campbeltown Celebrates) the plans were said to secure the future of the 42 dairy farms in the area . Few people with a knowledge of dairying in Kintyre expect there to be 38 dairy farms by the time the new creamery extension is opened or for the present number of Creamery workers to be maintained .
I note there is no mention of the much trumpeted world class facility previously highlighted , I suspect this is more like a replacement of some of the run down buildings at the present creamery , a creamery we were told by First Milk is no longer fit for purpose , indeed fit only for demolition .
Regarding the “increased production” , that made me laugh . Already milk is being taken by tanker from Bute to Kintyre at a cost of 4.5 pence per litre according to figures from NFUS to try and maintain throughput at the factory , an unsustainable proposition and seriously damaging to the environment .
The inevitable decline in the dairy industry in Kintyre continues and no amount of grant aid or spinning by the SNP and First Milk change that fact .
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Once again kintyre1 puts his own depressive view on a situation which he has only a limited knowledge!
From my info. Kintyre produces as much milk now from 38 commited and dedicated farming families as it did when there were over 100.
Number of producers does not relate to viability.
In Firstmilks press release,Kate Allum again reiterates Firstmilks commitment to Kintyre producers and Mull of Kintyre cheddar.
Campbeltown creamery is going to have significant investement,what form that takes is Firstmilks decision.
What is certain is that the dirty tricks played by Tesco is not going to deviate them from their goal.
What is not to be applauded in this ?
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Morag can you explain why milk is being tankered into Kintyre everyday if as you claim there is as much milk as there was when there were 100 producers ?
Can you further tell us how many dairy cows there are in Kintyre now compared to a few years ago ,
and while you are about it tell us why Campbeltown cheese is being sold in Lidl supermarkets at a knock down price when it is claimed to be a premium product .
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..”tankered into Kintyre everyday…”
Wrong.
Just give me a few weeks and a calculator and …jeez get a grip!!!
You know Nothing about milk production and I have told you that milk production levels are on a parr with many years ago.
Are you claiming that Lidl aren’t allowed to sell premium products now?
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Producers can be “committed and dedicated” one day and dead the next . It is clear from recent farm sales that no one is willing to come to Kintyre and take on a dairy farm , little wonder when producers here receive one of the poorest milk prices in Europe and have some of the highest costs .
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Most of the time I just shake my head at your crass statements.But,It has become really evident that you have some secret agenda to turn any positives in dairy farming into an abyss of innuedo,lies,misinformation and incomprehensible statements.
There may be some truth to the premise that if enough muck is thrown,some will surely stick!
Is that your purpose? Because I’m having trouble figuring your posts out.
You are obviously a disgruntled farmer,but why such venom is directed to a hard working section of Kintyre,is mystifying.
As with others,I would dearly like to hear your explanation……
The floor is all yours!
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If the number of producers is unimportant , why do the Scottish Government and First Milk put such emphasis on the number ? Could it be that they realise without a critical number of producers there is no infrastructure to support farmers eg vets ,feed merchants , dairy engineers etc
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As already stated…..are you listening?…number of producers may have fallen,but,levels of milk production have remained steady.
You are making too much out of numbers.
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Unfortunately you have chosen to misrepresent the facts and instead turn to character assasination , how very sad .
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Fortunately,I have provided the facts and you have not.
And how can anyone assasinate a character with no credence,in fact,no character at all!
When you can deliver the goods…then I’ll be the first to acknowledge same…until then put up or shut up.
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Pot calling the Kettle black eh kintyre1?
The simple fact is Morag is correct. Milk production in Kintyre is at the same level as it was regardless of the number of dairies. Haven’t some farms actually been bought over and consolidated therefore falling under one dairy farm now?
Sales of farms are like property on the whole Kintyre1 and if you haven’t noticed there is a recession on! Granted the milk prices could, and should, be better but that is another argument.
This is really a positive story so stop being so negative about everything on here.
As for Lidl, how dare they purchase a bulk production of cheese and sell it how they please! How dare they!
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Hughie can you explain why milk is being tankered in to Campbeltown Creamery at huge cost ?
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And your point is? Nope I can’t explain and quite frankly I don’t care. Perhaps they need more milk? Perhaps secuirty of the creamery will encourage local dairy farms to increase their herds?
On the basis of the creamery being secured surely this is good news? (whatever the other issues may be?)
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Standing on the side and having no knowledge of dairy farming, it seems to me kintyre1 is arguing that the £2m investment by the Scottish Gov and First Milk to secure 100 jobs in the plant, also it seems to be an important outlet for the Kintyre farms selling to the Creamery, is a no brainer and complete waste of taxpayers monies.
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I’m afraid John you are make no more sense than Kintyre1 is!! If it is an important outlet, secures the security of the creamery and its workforce and local dairies then its hardly a waste of taxpayers money given some of the white elephants we have in Kintyre over the years!
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Hughie, Please read my post again.
I unlike kintyre1 fully understand and support the investment.
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John, apologies if I mis-read your post. Easily done if you read it again yourself. It’s not transparent to me that is what you meant. But thanks for clarifying that!
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Hughie, read John’s post again. He’s not saying it’s a waste of money but pointing out what K1 thinks.
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Believe me…What kintyre1 thinks is beyond all reason!!!
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I am interested to see John in Kintyre talk of a £2million pound investment by the Scottish Gov and First Milk . My understanding and no doubt john will correct me if I am mistaken , is that up to 2 million pounds of European grant funding to be delivered by the Scottish Government is available for this project which begs the question , how much are First Milk contributing ?
My position on the Creamery is that I have serious doubts about it’s long term sustainability , with or without this investment and that I would prefer to see government take a more rounded view of development in Kintyre and agriculture in particular given that the present strategy is based on the Creamery and dairying only with grant funding poured into the milk sector and other farmers and their projects left with a few crumbs of support or none at all in many cases. In summary don’t put all your eggs in one shaky basket .
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I would not be surprised if Tesco pull out of Campbeltown and sell their exsisting store to Lidl. The only reason that Tesco have supermarkets in Oban and Campbeltown is because they fell heir to them when they bought William Low’s.
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Treblet: since swallowing William Low Tesco have extended their Oban store, and swallowed the town’s main post office – hardly the behaviour of a reluctant retailer.
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Tesco have ripped the physical heart out the town, and we let them. Hope lessons are learned.
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kintyre1,
I can only go by the article above and the press releases from both the Scottish Gov and First Milk, both of which state that the Goverment funding of £2m is subject to the benificiary, First Milk, meeting standard grant conditions.
To me it does not matter a great deal whether it is European Monies or not, as long as it is benificial to Kintyre farmers and the existing workforce in the Creamery.
It is excellent news for Campbeltown which sorely needs some inward investment.
Perhaps you have something against Dairy Farmers hence the sour grape whinging in your posts, I know it must be very difficult for someone of your political persuasion to even admit some good will come of this project especially if it is driven by the Scottish Goverment and a Farmer’s Co-operative.
On a different subject, where are the followers of the grumpy old men party going to put their “x” in the comming referendum?
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Robert.
Supermarkets like Tesco are keen to take over post office’s as they hope people collecting their pensions and other benefits will then spend their money in their supermarket.
Tesco are still doing well when their main competitor is the Co-op.
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Treblet: Exactly – so you can’t claim that Tesco are reluctant players in the Oban retail scene (although I do wonder if their customers might increasingly appreciate that ‘every little helps’ a great deal more in the nearby Aldi and Lidl than in the mighty Tesco).
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Robert.
You obviously do not like Tesco.
Where I live I would be delighted if Tesco decided to open up in competition with the Co-op. It would certainly make the Co-op reduce their prices and join the real world.
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Treblet: correct; I think they’re too big, and very, very sharp – and as a result have far too much influence over our economic lives – and politics. Yes they can be cheaper than the competition (though don’t bet on this) but I think this is at the price of widespread economic and social damage in traditional town centres. They’re past masters at manipulating public opinion – and politicians – and getting exactly what they want, sometimes at great cost to others; their property dealing activities can be utterly ruthless.
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After the dirty deed done to Firstmilk,I expect there will be many in Kintyre that do not like Tesco!
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Tesco’s prices are normally about the same as ASDA sometimes cheaper for some items and slightly dearer for others. However on a weekly shopping trip Tesco and ASDA are certainly cheaper than every other major supermarket chain such as Morrisons, Sainsbury and the Co-op.
You cannot include Lidl’s or Aldi as you would be hard pressed to do a weekly shop in one visit to either Lidl or Aldi.
I am a member of Kantar World Panel (also known as National Shopping Monitor) and I scan my shopping. Therefore I know all about the prices in supermarkets.
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Cheapest is rarely best value.Tesco are very inclined to push their own products and I find that their fruit and vegetables are over chilled
Oban is fortunate in having a fairly wide choice and Aldi and Lidl offer interesting alternatives
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Treblet: look up from your shopping basket and you’ll observe that the Co-op has invested in supermarkets in the more remote communities that the cherry pickers can’t be bothered with. Sure the price of shopping is higher than in Asda or Tesco, and it’s the downside of free market economics. I wonder, if – as a condition of being free to set up shop wherever they pleased – the likes of Tesco was required to also set up shop where the people pleased as well, you might find the price gap wasn’t quite as big?
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Morag.
If the people in Kintyre do not like Tesco then that is their choice. They will certainly notice that they will pay a lot more for their shopping if they start using the Co-op in Campbeltown instead of Tesco.
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And perhaps their conscience will be healthier Treblet knowing they are purchasing goods from a Fair Trade store. Unlike Tescos. Do people stop to think about that? Most, no. Why? Because they are selfish.
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Hughie I heartily agree. Shopping in the Co-op is more than a price issue. I have also noticed an increase in shoppers at Campbeltown Co-op in the last few years,so cost is obviously not the main consideration.
And don’t forget that we get, as share holders,some decent benefits back.I would love to see the Co-op expand in the town….Arrans Co-op is much larger and gives better choice,perhaps that’s what we really should be asking for?
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Some of the Fair Trade products I have purchased in the Co-op are dreadful. I have had Co-op Fair Trade wine which tasted like vinegar and Co-op Fair Trade chocolate which is not nearly as good as Cadbury’s.
Tesco and ASDA will not open new supermarkets in a town unless it has a large population. The only reason that there is a Morrison’s in Fort William is because Morrison’s fell heir to it when they bought Safeways.
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Treblet: You might be right about ASDA, but Tesco and Morrisons in Oban and Fort William respectively would have packed up and departed long ago if their inherited supermarkets weren’t viable. As for quality of Fairtrade products, in my experience there’s a fair amount of wine – particularly the cheap stuff – of all sorts of provenance, that tastes a bit like vinegar. As for chocolate, there’s just a chance that you’ve grown up with Cadbury’s and prefer the taste of it – apparently the reverse applies to some Americans who find our chocolate strange in comparison with Hershey’s and whatever else is sold there. Most Fairtrade chocolate seems to be manufactured in Germany, and I wonder if perhaps it doesn’t contain the vegetable fat that Cadbury’s chococolate has – in the same way that German beer purity laws ensure that their stuff doesn’t contain the additives that are present in a lot of our beer.
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