In the wake of an incident at Ramsgate port, described by RSPCA officers present as a “fiasco,” during which 45 animals died as a result of improper treatment and the collapse of a holding area where some were being kept, Thanet District Council has intervened and banned live exports from the port.

image expired

Local groups, backed by councillors, local MPs and animal welfare organisations have been campaigning to bring an end to live exports from the port for over a year. Ramsgate has been used for live exports since loading apparatus at Dover sustained damage and was put out of use; opposition groups claim the port is ill-equipped to deal with animals’ needs and that the single boat used is not fit for purpose

Following the death on Wednesday (12th September) of 45 animals from a lorry carrying 500, which had been stopped at the port on previous occasions for breaches of welfare regulations, Thanet Council announced on Friday (14th September) that it would be halting live exports from the port with immediate effect.

Two French lorry drivers were arrested at Ramsgate port following the events on Wednesday.

Last week, local MP Laura Sandys and RSPCA officials met with farming minister David Heath to discuss the situation. Ms Sandys, who has described the trade as “deeply distasteful and disruptive for the whole community” said, following a meeting on Thursday that “David Heath made it very clear to me that his Department regards the situation at Ramsgate as completely unacceptable and will be taking a zero tolerance approach to any infringement of the live animal export trade regulations.”

She added, “I was very pleased to hear that the Minister has already taken strong action on this issue.  He has suspended the licence of the offending vehicle and has commissioned reports on the welfare of the animals in Northamptonshire and the suitability of the transportation process.”

Welfare campaigners have suggested the port’s inadequacies had been highlighted long before the incident on Wednesday, when a shipment from Northamptonshire was halted and animals had to spend 24 hours on their transporter without food and water before being taken back.

RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant, who was also present at Thursday’s meeting with the agriculture minister, welcomed the ban. Mr Grant said, “Now we need to move to make the suspension a permanent one, not only from Ramsgate but the whole country. We have fought against this trade for well over 100 years.

“It is tragic that it had to happen this way, but the council have made the right decision and we are fully behind them. Ramsgate was the only British port currently being used for shipping animals abroad for further fattening and slaughter.”

A spokesperson from Thanet council said that, although the ban introduced on Friday is a temporary one there are currently no plans to retract the measures, which are dependent on the construction of suitable facilities within the Port. The spokesperson added that “Providing the facilities will depend on the cost of building and running such a facility, and also whether it is a priority of the council in comparison with other issues.”

Tweet