ILMINSTER could soon become a Fairtrade Town, if councillors back an idea campaigners have put forward.
Roger Gurner, of South Petherton, told the council last week it would help bring people into Ilminster He said: “People who want to support this can do so wholeheartedly and those who don’t want to support it are not affected.
“So whether you want to support it or not it costs you nothing and we are not asking the town council to put their hands in their pockets either.”
A Fairtrade Town is any community in which people and organisations use their everyday choices to increase sales of Fairtrade products to bring about a positive change for farmers and workers in developing countries.
Mr Gurner said the town can already qualify for Fairtrade status because four outlets offer Fairtrade products.
The UK has 584 Fairtrade towns and Somerset has 11 but Ilminster could be the first in South Somerset.
Councillors agreed in principle to the idea of Ilminster becoming a fairtrade town but wanted to more information about the scheme and appointed Cllrs Val Keitch, Sophie Storey, Andrew Lawson and Philip Burton to attend Ilminster Fairtade Steering Group’s next meeting.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel