This Is Guernsey

MILK retailers have won their battle with Commerce and Employment. And with it many believe the future of doorstep milk deliveries have been secured.

There were jubilant scenes in the House as deputies chose to back an amendment by former milk retailer Mary Lowe which, they believe, will protect the industry.

The saga has been ongoing since September 2005 when the department announced controversial changes to the way in which milk was distributed.

Guernsey Milk Retailers’ Association president Jason Piriou was in the public gallery along with several of its members throughout yesterday’s debate.

‘We are very pleased that the House has decided to back her ‘Deputy Lowe’s’ amendment,’ he said.

‘We think it’s the best way forward for the GMRA because it will put the system back and give them all the protection they paid for.’

The vote was overwhelmingly in favour of the Lowe amendment. It means that a system of licences stipulating zones for each milk round will be reinforced.

Some felt the Dairy had let this slip but it will now be put into legislation.

‘We have to wait now and see what instructions Commerce and Employment are given by the House and I imagine it will be back into consultation to work out the legislation that is required,’ said Mr Piriou.

‘But much of the system is already in place. It just needs new legislation to freshen it up,’ he said.

The milkmen wore red, blue and green T-shirts to symbolise the different types of milk as they sat in the public gallery.

They cheered and clapped as the debate ended late yesterday. And afterwards they were busy thanking deputies for their support.

Deputy Lowe said that common sense had prevailed.

Commerce and Employment had wanted to move to a system that would have allowed those qualifying for licences to deliver anywhere in the island.

‘I’m delighted the States has acknowledged that the department has, in my view, been letting down the retailers over the last few years by not implementing the licensing and zoning that was part of the business they had bought into,’ said Deputy Lowe.

She welcomed an assurance from minister Stuart Falla that it would not wait for the legislation before moving forward.

‘I would think many thousands of people would be delighted with this decision - not only retailers and their families, but people young and old who were concerned they would see the demise of the doorstep delivery,’ she said.

The department faces three more amendments to the rest of its report on the dairy industry and the debate on it continues today. Deputy Falla told some of the milk retailers as he left the States that he looked forward to working with them.

Article posted on 27th April, 2007 - 12.00am