Calling Notice – Phillip Bennion MEP (Lib Dem)
phil.bennion@europarl.europa.eu Strasbourg Office: 00333 8817 7521
press@philbennion.org 07966 514982
Release time: Friday 11/01/2013 Event: 1.15pm Saturday 12/01/13
Euro MP to meet protesters against plan to grub up 7 miles of Shropshire hedgerow
Shropshire and regional Lib Dem Euro MP Phil Bennion will to tomorrow (Sat Jan 12th) meet villagers and councillors who want his backing to fight a plan to grub up seven miles of hedges near Chirbury.
The regional MEP, who is also a farmer, will meet Cllr Heather Kidd and campaigners at Chirbury Post Office SY15 6BH at 1.15pm before travelling outside the village to view a nearby section of the threatened hedgerow himself. Local tenant farmers oppose the landlord’s plan.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
The issue has prompted a storm of protest with objectors across the country including leading academics.
Among points made by objectors are:
Campaigners say the proposal – to use a loophole in the 1997 Hedgerow Regulations to remove seven miles of hedges to create a single giant prairie field – flies in the face of government policy and recent moves by the EU to encourage farmers to look after their hedges under stewardship payment schemes.
ENDS
For further information contact Cllr Heather Kidd on 0798063551