FARMERS and butchers were in disarray today after South Lakeland's largest abattoir shut-up shop with the loss of 35 jobs, reports Jennie Dennett.

In a statement released yesterday (Thursday), RE Winder (South Lakeland) Ltd said a decision had been made to wind-up operations and close its Ulverston slaughterhouse on North Lonsdale Terrace.

Winders' demise means farmers in the south of the county face the prospect of transporting their animals to the county's remaining large abattoir at Carlisle, or selling to wholesalers who are likely to give them a poorer price for their animals.

Such a development flies in the face of attempts to expand the market in locally-reared meats in the interests of animal welfare, disease control and farmers' livelihoods.

There are still smaller abattoirs at Ayside, Levens, Wigton and Hawes but they cannot match the capacity of Winders, which typically slaughtered 650 animals a week.

Tom Hodgson, Ulverston secretary of the National Farmers' Union, described the closure as a "very sad day for Furness and the wider farming community".

"Winders has performed a vital part of the food chain in this area," he said. "We now have no significant independent slaughtering capacity in south Cumbria. I don't know what that means in terms of the impact it's going to have."

Winders' chief executive Alan Green blamed the closure on tough regulations, supermarkets and cheap imports.

The business had almost folded in 2001 at the height of the foot-and-mouth crisis but Winders' Blackpool abattoir was sold-off and the Ulverston operation safeguarded thanks to tycoon John Morphet, of South Lakeland Caravans. Mr Morphet bought a half share in the abattoir and RP Winder was relaunched as RE Winder (South Lakeland). But Mr Green said that while the business had been supported through those difficult times and jobs protected, it could not carry on.

"With increasing regulation and the tight squeeze on margins for small abattoirs due to the buying power of supermarkets and the increasing volume of imported meat coming in to the UK, RE Winder (South Lakeland) is no longer commercially viable.

"Sadly, all 35 staff have been issued with redundancy notices. Where possible every assistance will be given to these people to find alternative employment."

Mr Green added that every attempt had been made to sell the business but to no avail. Mark Duerdon, who runs the Lindal Moor abattoir which slaughters meat for non-human consumption, confirmed that he had been trying to buy the Ulverston plant but had been unable to reach agreement with the company.

No decisions have been made on the future of the abattoir site or the Winders' meat marketing brand South Lakeland Select'.

Butchers and farmers had got wind of the possible closure after Winders stopped slaughtering animals this week.

Ian Tyson, of Melville Tysons Butchers & Grocers of Broughton-in-Furness, described the closure as a blow for butchers who used local farmers to source locally reared, quality meat. Winders had offered a service, allowing butchers to buy from individual farmers, get the animals slaughtered at Ulverston and delivered direct to them.