Council urged to back farmers after vegan cafe saga

The Countryside Alliance is urging Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council to rethink their environmental priorities, following a recent U-turn which saw meat products introduced to the menu of its new eco café on Bournemouth beach following public outcry. 

The Alliance, which has thousands of members of across Dorset and campaigns to promote British farming, said the original decision only to serve vegan and vegetarian menu items was short sighted and doomed to fail.

Instead, the council should be working with farmers to showcase British farming, including livestock, if it wants to ‘show off its green credentials’.

The £2.4 million Environmental Innovation Hub at Durley Chine on Bournemouth seafront was built out of recycled materials collected from the sea to highlight plastic pollution. The eco-hub has previously been branded a “council vanity project”.

In keeping with its green message, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council (BCP) imposed a vegetarian-only menu for the food kiosk at the hub.

It sold vegetarian sausage rolls, steak-less pasties and vegan cakes among other ethical eats.

But following customer feedback the council has revised the menu to include meat.

Mo Metcalf-Fisher, a spokesman for the Countryside Alliance said: “BCP council leaders should have known this meatless menu project was doomed to fail. The vast bulk of the British public enjoy meat as part of a balanced diet and there’s no sign of that changing. Given it’s a public building, it should cater for all and not discriminate”.

“There’s a dangerous misconception that ‘going green’ must equal the eradication of meat. This is totally untrue and threatens the future of the countryside we all know and love. Councils, particularly those based in rural counties like Dorset, should not be normalising anti- livestock farming sentiment.

“Supporting sustainable livestock farming and buying local produce goes a long way to reducing emissions while supporting people that works tirelessly to enhance and protect the countryside and natural environment”, he added.

Going forward, the Alliance is urging the council to proactively work with farmers to supply local produce for menu items, including meat and dairy.

“If the council truly wish to show off their green credentials, they will commit to supplying sustainable, local produce on their menu. Cutting the distance travelled from farm to plate is essential in reducing emissions. The café should be used to showcase British farming and the importance of buying locally”, Mr Metcalf-Fisher added.

Our story has been picked up by The Daily Echo and Farming UK.