Why the life of milk men has gone sour
This article shows just how fragile the private sector is in typical rural service centres.
Taking the example of Okehampton in Devon it highlights problems that are not unique to the countryside, but that do have a strong rural dimension.
“This was prime dairy country,” the article says.
The Taw Valley Creamery at North Tawton is still a major employer, but other companies have closed their doors.
“A further 67 jobs will go when Robert Wiseman Dairies relocates its plant to Bridgewater at the end of next month. These are big numbers for a town of 7,000 inhabitants to absorb.”
This all comes at a time of persistently high unemployment figures – the highest since 1994.
I refuse to take political sides but I do wonder as many rural public sector workers begin to lose their jobs just what real hope there is of the private sector taking up the slack.