Country campaigners march for rural rights (From Western Telegraph)

Country campaigners march for rural rights

The people living and working in Pembrokeshire's countryside took to the streets of London on Sunday as part of the Liberty and Livelihood March. A fleet of eight coaches ferried people of all ages and from many backgrounds to join the march with the aim of raising awareness of rural issues.

The farmer, the village shopkeeper, the publican, the country sports enthusiast - communities intent on preserving rural life - headed up the M4 for the biggest ever mobilisation of public support for the countryside. The Pembrokeshire contingent were assigned to the Liberty route. They marched from Hyde Park to Picadilly before meeting up with the Livelihood march at Whitehall. They then headed for Westminster where they filed past the Cenotaph in silence.

The event was billed as a march for the rights and needs of people living in the countryside.

Among those who travelled from Pembrokeshire was farmer, Diane Clements, of Broomhill, Martletwy, and her family.

Although one of the issues being defended was hunting with hounds, the march was about a whole range of concerns, she said As a dairy farmer, Diane Clements is only too aware of the wide discrepancy between the farmgate and retail prices of milk. She is paid about 16p a litre for a product which supermarkets sell for around 59p a litre.

"This march was a public show of support for the countryside. There are so many people out there who believe in the countryside. It was an opportunity for a collective demonstration of support, everyone shared the same gritty determination,'' said Diane.

Last Monday giant beacons were lit across Pembrokeshire in a show of support for the march.

More than three coachloads of South Pembrokeshire Hunt supporters left Kilgetty at 6.30 am on Sunday morning to join the 400,000 who marched on Westminster, not arriving home until 2 am on Monday. "It was a long and tiring day, but brilliantly successful," said Mrs Clements.

The RSPCA dismissed the march as a stunt by hunting supporters. "This is not a town against country issue; it is about cruelty and morality,'' said a spokesman.

Local campaigners gather in Hyde Park for Sunday's Liberty and Livelihood March. Holding the right hand banner are Andrew Morgan, of Cresselly Home Farm, and Bruce Carlisle, of Pencoed Farm, Lawrenny.