Contact your MP in support of local abattoirs

Brighton and Hove Food Partnership continues to work with our colleagues at Wealden Food Partnership, local authorities, and representatives from across rural Sussex to support a viable local meat system through the Southeast Abattoir Working Group, but we need your support. The national Abattoir Sector Group has written to Andy Burnham in support of small abattoirs, please contact your MP and tell them why small abattoirs matter to you.

Template email or letter

Subject: Please support local abattoirs and protect Sussex’s food infrastructure

Dear [MP Name],

I am asking you to become a champion for local abattoirs in Parliament.

With only one abattoir remaining in Sussex, we are alarmingly close to losing the infrastructure that allows our farmers to sell locally produced meat, support biodiversity through conservation grazing and maintain high animal welfare standards. Unless Government acts now, more farmers, food businesses and rural communities will be put at risk.

I urge you to support measures that recognise small, local abattoirs as essential infrastructure, remove unnecessary barriers to their operation and invest in their long-term future.

Local abattoirs play a crucial role in supporting regenerative farming and local food systems. Many farmers raising native breeds depend on smaller facilities because larger processors often do not offer the services they need. These native breeds are particularly important for conservation grazing, helping to maintain valuable habitats such as our internationally important chalk grasslands. The UK has lost 97% of its species rich grasslands and 80% of its chalk grasslands since the Second World War. These habitats are important carbon stores and support a disproportional level of biodiversity.

The loss of local abattoirs also has serious economic consequences. Many farmers rely on local processing facilities to sell meat directly to the public through farm shops, markets and local retailers. Without access to local abattoirs, some farmers may be forced to reduce their livestock numbers or even leave the industry altogether. This threatens family farming businesses and weakens local food economies.

The impact extends far beyond farms. Butchers, delivery businesses, veterinarians, restaurants and hospitality & tourism businesses all benefit from access to locally produced meat. Restaurants that promote high-quality Sussex produce may find it harder to source local meat, while opportunities for public sector procurement in schools, hospitals and other institutions can also be lost.

Animal welfare is another major concern. As local facilities disappear, animals are required to travel ever greater distances for slaughter. Longer journeys increase stress on livestock while also adding to the carbon footprint of British food production.

This is also an issue of food security. Losing local food infrastructure makes communities more dependent on longer, more complex supply chains and increases reliance on food produced elsewhere. A resilient food system depends on maintaining infrastructure close to where food is produced.

There is already strong support within Sussex for maintaining and improving local abattoir provision, including from local authorities and environmental organisations, because it supports economic development, biodiversity objectives and resilient local food systems.

I therefore ask you to:

Protecting local abattoirs means protecting local farmers, supporting nature recovery, improving animal welfare, strengthening food security and keeping more economic value within our communities.

I would be grateful to hear your views on this issue and learn what action you will take to support local food infrastructure.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Address]
[Postcode]