Cruelty ban farmer can still trade at markets

Colin Chambers was stopped by the Humber Bridge Board, East Riding Council and Driffield Town Council from selling meat at Driffield, Beverley, and Pocklington weekly markets and the monthly market at the Humber Bridge after he and his wife Katherine were fined 21,000 for animal welfare and food hygiene offences.

A court case last month followed an investigation at the Chambers' farm holdings at Rotsea Carr, Rudston and Easingwold, which uncovered starved and dying livestock, some of which had to be put down on the spot, among rotting carcasses which had not been disposed of properly. Game was being prepared in a filthy room.

However, Harrogate Borough Council says it won't stop the Black Sheep Meat Company from taking a stall at its markets at Ripon and Knaresborough. Officers said they had checked his stall recently and "found everything to be in order."

But one trader, who didn't want to be named, said the decision "beggared belief".

He said the Chambers were not displaying their normal banner, and many people wouldn't be aware of what had happened. He said: "This is going to make a lot of people cross. They are saying they have been punished in effect and he's now compliant but it doesn't restore the trust that has been undermined."

In a statement Harrogate Council said the offences happened more than a year ago, and the council "believes Mr Chambers has done nothing wrong contractually in regard to his council's market stall."

At the hearing Chambers pleaded guilty to 12 offences relating to animal welfare, food hygiene and failing to dispose of carcasses. His wife admitted 14 similar offences. Both were given two-year conditional discharges.

Their son Mark was given a two-year conditional discharge over eight offences of failing to dispose of carcasses.