Viva! - Press Release

Viva!
8 York Court
Wilder Street
Bristol BS2 8QH Tel: 0117 944 1000
Fax: 0117 924 4646

email:
becky@viva.org.uk

SAY ‘NO’ TO DUCKS AT BENTWATERS!

Photocall: 9 am on Friday 31st March at Suffolk Coastal District Council, Melton Hill, Woodbridge then at Rendlesham Project Services, Bentwaters Airbase

Viva! campaigners dressed as ducks will be outside Suffolk Coastal District Council this Friday, March 31st urging councillors to evict intensive duck producers Green Label from Bentwaters airbase.

The Viva! protesters are furious that Green Label has moved ducks into a disused shelter at the Bentwaters site as an ‘experiment’ without obtaining planning permission from the council. They will be requesting a meeting with planning officials and then moving on to Rendlesham Project Services - the company who manages the Bentwaters site.

At Bentwaters, campaigners will ask permission to see the ducks for themselves. They are concerned that because Green Label has bypassed official planning procedures, they may also have ignored the birds’ welfare requirements.

“Green Label is making an underhand attempt to expand without going through official channels or consulting the public”, says local Viva! representative Diana Marshall. “If we don’t act now, we could see Bentwaters becoming a giant intensive duck farm.”

In December Viva! launched a major report and national campaign against the UK duck farming industry with the support of celebrities including Twiggy, Joanna Lumley and Sir Paul McCartney. The charity revealed how these aquatic animals are being kept in their thousands in sheds where they are unable to swim or even immerse their heads in water. Deprived of fulfilling this most fundamental biological requirement, the ducks have difficulty in keeping warm and can develop eye problems and even blindness.

The Viva! campaign includes footage and photographs taken at another Green Label site in Suffolk - Maple Lodge Farm in Witnesham. The footage shows thousands of ducks in one building and dead and injured birds who have been left unnoticed. Still photographs show bins full of dead ducklings outside the farm.

“Green Label has an appalling track record and we’re extremely concerned about the Bentwaters ducks”, says Viva! Campaigner Becky Smith. “These birds should be outside on ponds and rivers, not imprisoned in a disused shelter and surrounded by barbed wire fencing. Suffolk Coastal District Council must act decisively on both animal welfare and planning grounds and evict Green Label from this site immediately.”

For more information, footage or photographs of Green Label ducks, please contact Becky Smith or Juliet Gellatley at Viva! headquarters on 0117 944 1000.



Viva! 8 York Court Wilder Street Bristol BS2 8QH Tel: 0117 944 1000 Fax: 0117 924 4646 email: becky@viva.org.uk	SAY ‘NO’ TO DUCKS AT BENTWATERS! Photocall: 9 am on Friday 31st March at Suffolk Coastal District Council, Melton Hill, Woodbridge then at Rendlesham Project Services, Bentwaters Airbase Viva! campaigners dressed as ducks will be outside Suffolk Coastal District Council this Friday, March 31st urging councillors to evict intensive duck producers Green Label from Bentwaters airbase. The Viva! protesters are furious that Green Label has moved ducks into a disused shelter at the Bentwaters site as an ‘experiment’ without obtaining planning permission from the council. They will be requesting a meeting with planning officials and then moving on to Rendlesham Project Services - the company who manages the Bentwaters site. At Bentwaters, campaigners will ask permission to see the ducks for themselves. They are concerned that because Green Label has bypassed official planning procedures, they may also have ignored the birds’ welfare requirements. “Green Label is making an underhand attempt to expand without going through official channels or consulting the public”, says local Viva! representative Diana Marshall. “If we don’t act now, we could see Bentwaters becoming a giant intensive duck farm.” In December Viva! launched a major report and national campaign against the UK duck farming industry with the support of celebrities including Twiggy, Joanna Lumley and Sir Paul McCartney. The charity revealed how these aquatic animals are being kept in their thousands in sheds where they are unable to swim or even immerse their heads in water. Deprived of fulfilling this most fundamental biological requirement, the ducks have difficulty in keeping warm and can develop eye problems and even blindness. The Viva! campaign includes footage and photographs taken at another Green Label site in Suffolk - Maple Lodge Farm in Witnesham. The footage shows thousands of ducks in one building and dead and injured birds who have been left unnoticed. Still photographs show bins full of dead ducklings outside the farm. “Green Label has an appalling track record and we’re extremely concerned about the Bentwaters ducks”, says Viva! Campaigner Becky Smith. “These birds should be outside on ponds and rivers, not imprisoned in a disused shelter and surrounded by barbed wire fencing. Suffolk Coastal District Council must act decisively on both animal welfare and planning grounds and evict Green Label from this site immediately.” For more information, footage or photographs of Green Label ducks, please contact Becky Smith or Juliet Gellatley at Viva! headquarters on 0117 944 1000.