Fears raised over live animal exports through Portsmouth
Live animals could be exported for slaughter through Portsmouth's port - with city leaders powerless to stop it.
Portsmouth City Council had imposed a 5,000 fee on trucks carrying 10 or more animals in a bid to prevent the trade.
But that has been cut to 2,345 after ferry company Celtic Link threatened legal action over the hefty fee, according to Lib Dem councillor Mike Hancock.
The move has sparked fears that firms will pay the lower price and start shipping out animals, as there is no UK law to prevent it.
Cllr Hancock, who is in charge of planning, regeneration and economic development, said it could stop other firms using the port.
'Some passenger ferry operators have made it quite clear to us as a city that they do not want to see this trade encouraged,' he said.
'It can have a really bad impact on children when they see large numbers of animals being exported in what is often inhumane conditions.
'And we have had incidents in the past when sheep and pigs have come loose from the trucks and been killed in front of people's eyes on Mile End Road.
'We do not want Portsmouth being used for this trade.'
As reported in The News, animal rights campaigners held a protest at the port when Celtic Link first expressed an interest in resurrecting the trade, which has not happened in Portsmouth for more than a decade.
After the protest the firm said it would abandon plans to export live animals.
But the firm's legal challenge has sparked fears it wants to start it again.
Councillor Jason Fazackarley, in charge of community safety, warned there would be mass protests which could prove dangerous.
The former member of Greenpeace said: 'This is an extremely emotive issue that will have a massive impact on Portsmouth.
'If live animal exports do start we may well face a situation of ongoing demonstrations and the policing and security issues that involves. In the past, I have been at a demonstration where one member was crushed under the wheels of a truck.
'If we can avoid this in any way then I really hope we do - and I hope the city council is as robust in defending itself as possible.'
No-one from Celtic Link was available for comment.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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