Gilder pulls plug Ham goes international
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on Plymouth pod
• The haulier behind the shipments of live animals through Plymouth has pulled out of the operation because it is "too expensive".
Peter Gilder, the haulier involved with MT Shipping's animal exports, decided to end the trade last Friday (24 February) blaming the "horrendous charges" imposed by the port owner Associated British Ports. Gilder, a director of Bourton on the Water, Glos-based Peter Gilder & Sons, says he was put off by the cost, rather than animal protesters. "Rising charges have left me with no alternative but to take a commercial decision and end the trade," he says.
Gilder says he was charged up to 4:1,500 for security company services for each sailing, plus ABP's £13,000 berthing • fees. And a £20,000 security deposit had to be deposited with ABP's bankers before each sailing. These charges combined with a refusal by ABP to confirm berthing times and dates, were measures designed to curtail the livestock trade, he says.
Gilder, together with a consortium of farmers and other exporters, launched the MT Shipping service when the other ferry companies banned live animal exports in December.
A spokesman for ABP confirmed the shippers had decided to withdraw their trade.