Wrexham arrest after farmers blocks city in protest

Tractors and vehicles were used for the protest

A man has been arrested following criminal damage after a fleet of about 30 tractors blocked a main road in Wrexham.

Farm vehicles along with 20 pick-ups drove to the constituency office of Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths.

The protest was against the Welsh government's proposed new farm subsidy scheme.

Police received a report about the blockade on Rhosddu Road at 14.10 GMT.

Called the Sustainable Farming Scheme and set to come in from 2025 after a consultation, farms must ensure 10% of land is planted with trees and 10% is treated as wildlife habitat in order to be eligible for payments.

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Unions have argued the changes will be unworkable for many, while the scheme's checklist of requirements will mean more paperwork.

The Wrexham protest was the latest action after 3,000 farmers gathered in Carmarthen last week warning of "huge unrest" because of the proposed scheme.

Farmers, industry members and supporters packed themselves in at a protest held at Carmarthen Showground

The vehicles had travelled to the constituency office of Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths from the Denbigh, Ruthin, Corwen, Llangollen and Wrexham areas.

They accused the Welsh government and the minister of ignoring them.

Eilir Jones farms near Ruthin, Denbighshire, and said: "We face losing 20% of our land, losing over 5,000 jobs. Losing land to trees to offset carbon for large companies.

"They're the ones polluting, not us. We're the ones suffering. Why should we lose 20% of our productive land?

"Which other sectors are facing losing 20% of their production to reduce carbon?"

North Wales Police Superintendent Jon Bowcott said: "Police officers attended a report of a protest in Wrexham city this afternoon.

"Early positive action was taken to deal with an isolated incident of criminal damage and a man has been arrested in connection with the incident.

"The protest has now dispersed and North Wales Police will continue to monitor the situation."

A Welsh government spokesperson said: "The Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) aims to secure food production systems, keep farmers farming the land, safeguard the environment, and address the urgent call of the climate and nature emergency.

"We have run an extensive co-design exercise in developing the SFS and we thank the hundreds of farmers who have been involved.

"The final consultation on the scheme is still open and we encourage everyone to reply with their views by 7 March. 

"No final decision will be taken on the scheme until after the consultation has taken place, and we will listen carefully to all views."

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