Shrewsbury MP Meets With British Sugar
08/08/06

Daniel Kawczynski MP is meeting next Monday with a Director of British Sugar, to discuss the proposed closure of the sugar processing factory at Allscott.

Allscott Sugar Factory

British Sugar announced last month that it would be closing the sugar beet factory at Allscott, which lies at the border of Daniel's Shrewsbury & Atcham constituency, with the loss of up to 150 jobs.

The meeting, which will be held at 2pm at Daniel's constituency office in Shrewsbury, is with British Sugar Director Mr Chris Carter.

"The Government have written to me this week claiming that they are not able to do anything to prevent the closure of this plant," said Daniel. "This means that the massive loss of jobs for local people - many of whom are my constituents - looks likely to go ahead, in addition to the serious loss of markets for so many farmers in Shropshire and nearby areas."

Daniel will be talking to Mr Carter in detail about the reasons for the proposed closure and the recent call by the NFU to delay the plans for a year or more while the farmers seek alternative markets for their crops.

"I am also keen to talk about the potential for biofuel crops and processing," added Daniel, "whether at Allscroft or elsewhere in Shropshire."

Another topic on the agenda is the cost of transport, which will greatly increase for the sugar farmers if they have to take their sugar beet to processing factories elsewhere in the UK.

MP Fights For Shropshire Sugar Factory
New biofuel collaboration good for society and farming says NFU
Farmers meet the challenges of climate change