Farmers are planning to park their tractors in supermarket car parks across the UK for a number of hours tomorrow (Friday, January 17) in a peaceful protest over Government changes to inheritance tax.
East Yorkshire is expected to see its share of tractors at supermarkets, with farmers hopping out of their cabs to spread information to shoppers and the stores. They hope to show the strength of the farming community and the damaging impact of the Autumn Budget on agriculture.
The Byass family, who farm at Little Weighton, will be taking up the cause locally. David Byass, whose farm is mainly arable, growing crops including wheat, barley and oilseed rape, will be rolling up, with others, in their tractors and parking near Morrison’s and the M&S Food Store, at Springfield Way, Anlaby.
David said: “It’s worrisome times for farming families. I’ve seen farming from starting work on this farm as a small boy, working with horses and steam engines, through to the modern machines we see today in the fields.
“This is one of the most frightful times for continuation of the UK agricultural industry that I’ve seen.” His son, Nick Byass, is also a farmer.
Nick said: “It’s a peaceful protest, a way of raising awareness of British farmers and the plights they are facing at this minute with the inheritance tax etc. It’s going to be two, maybe four or five tractors parked up at as many supermarkets as possible and farmers giving leaflets out.”
The tractors appearing at supermarkets will help put into context the vital part farmers play in bringing food to the nation. Nick described it as a “pro-active way to gain momentum for the plight of UK food supplies and farming futures”.
Arranged by a coalition of farmers and supported by the organisers of the recent London Tractor Rally and other demonstrations – farmers from Beverley and the surrounding area recently met on Beverley Westwood before a convoy of tractors was driven through the town centre – the action will underline how farmers are not prepared to back down in their fight.
David Byass will be parking his tractor near to Morrison’s and the M&S Food Store at Springfield Way, Anlaby, to raise awareness
(Image: Nick Byass)
Nick, who was responsible for saving Swanland’s Bonfire Night celebrations last November, said: “This movement is to raise awareness, without farmers trying to make a nuisance of themselves. It’s about getting the word out there about what we would like to improve on, on all sides, and supermarkets are in the food business as much as anybody so it’s in their interests.”
Nick said: “It’s a group effort and it’s getting that public support for the issues facing the farming industry, not just with the inheritance tax that will affect farming families in this area but other things as well.”
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