There is no plan to introduce a meat of dairy ban in the county, Powys County Council leader, councillor James Gibson-Watt has said.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Gibson-Watt has hit back against Conservatives who believe that meat and dairy free menus are on their way to schools and council events in Powys.

As reported last week, Conservative councillors to introduce a notice of motion at a council meeting on Thursday, December 8 that seeks a commitment to serve meat and dairy in schools and council events for at least the next five years.

Cllr Iain McIntosh has raised concerns that Powys could follow the lead of Liberal Democrat/Labour and Green Party run Oxfordshire County Council, who decided to ban meat and dairy products from official council functions earlier this year.

Scaremongering

He added that since July, Cllr Sian Cox the cabinet member for as caring Powys has held “three community assemblies” bringing farmers, food growers, environmentalists, and citizens together to discuss food, farming, and nature in Wales.

Cllr Gibson-Watt said:

“There is absolutely no plan to introduce a meat or dairy ban of any kind in Powys and Cllr McIntosh will be aware of that.

“It is a shame he rather uses council time to play politics rather than focus on real issues such as the cost of living and energy crisis, which incidentally is having a tremendous impact on our local farmers.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats will always back our local producer.”

“Not a single person has spoken of a meat ban fear despite scaremongering from Cllr McIntosh,” said Cllr Gibson-Watt.

“We will continue to serve healthy nutritional meals which balance the amount of carbohydrates, good quality meat, dairy and non-meat protein products, fruit, vegetables, drinks, and dairy products, produced and provided through local supply chains where possible.”

At Thursday’s meeting Cllr McIntosh will ask for a council commitment not to ban meat and dairy.