Dover Harbour Board Chairman to discuss live animal exports with Green Party Councillor

George Jenkins OBE, Chairman of Dover Harbour Board, is to meet with Thanet Green Party Councillor, Ian Driver, to discuss issues surrounding the welfare of farm animals being exported from the Port of Dover.

The export of live animals re-commenced from Dover on 2 May following a 2 year break when trade was switched to the Port of Ramsgate. The trade from Ramsgate was halted for several weeks when 46 sheep, which were unfit to travel, had to be killed in September 2012.

Driver, one of the leaders of the campaign to stop live exports from Ramsgate, said people in Dover and across Kent are very concerned about the Harbour Board's reluctance to invite the RSPCA to observe the loading of the animals onto the ferry Joline.

Driver said: "In Ramsgate the port owners, Thanet District Council, positively encouraged the RSPCA to send its inspectors into the port, where they worked in partnership with Government inspectors from the Animal Health Agency and officers from Kent County Council Trading Standards. This partnership approach led to greatly improved standards of animal welfare at the port and the detection and prosecution of cases of illegal animal cruelty by the exporters.

"If a small port like Ramsgate can adopt a robust, modern and joined-up approach towards the welfare of animals being exported from its facilities, then there is no reason why Dover, one the world's major ports, cannot do the same".

He continued: "I met Chairman Jenkins at the Harbour Board Annual Meeting this week. He reminds me a lot of Jose Mourinhou - a dynamic moderniser who wants to transform Dover into a European Champion Port.

"When we meet I want to talk to him about extending his ambitious plans to modernise the port to include the modernisation and improvement of the Board's approach towards the welfare of farm animals exported from Dover. I know the Board must obey the law, but I genuinely believe a lot can be done to relive the suffering of animals passing through the port as part of this cruel and barbaric trade".

A public meeting about live animal exports from Dover is being held on the 7th June at Dover Town Hall. Speakers include Gavin Grant, Chief Executive of the RSPCA, Dil Peeling from Compassion in World Farming, Charlie Elphike, Dover MP and Ian Driver Green Party Councillor Thanet.