AN event in Newton Abbot to gauge the public’s support for the Fairtrade movement has been hailed a success by the organisers.

On Saturday [September 7] members of the town council were joined by Fairtrade representatives and political figures to ask shoppers if they would like the campaign to have a higher profile with more traders and consumers choosing products that guarantee global farmers a fair price.

The response was so positive that it looks certain a steering committee will soon be formed with the aim of winning official Fairtrade status for Newton Abbot, a title it once held but which lapsed some years ago.

The town council had already taken the first critical step of giving its backing to a bid and now plans are being drawn up to take the project forward.

Encouraged by the public reaction Cllr Louise Cooke (Bradley Ward) said: ‘British farmers are struggling, I have relatives who are farmers and struggling, but that’s nothing compared to what some farmers in other parts of the world are up against.

‘And if we want to keep Newton Abbot relevant we have to be thinking about these matters.’

Cllr Richard Buscombe (Bradley Ward) agreed but emphasised the need for public involvement if the scheme is to succeed.

‘It reminds me of town twinning where it’s got to come from the community itself, it’s not something the town council can impose,’ he said.

‘I just hope we can find an audience and a group of people that can take this forward, I think it’s an excellent idea.’

Former Teignbridge District Council Leader and Newton Abbot resident, Gordon Hook, had written to the town council earlier in the year to ask how the Fairtrade movement could be better highlighted.

Also pleased with Saturday’s event he said: ‘I’m really delighted the town council has grasped the nettle and very much hope that the town will regain Fairtrade status.

‘It does promote a magnificent organisation that’s doing a fantastic job around the world and we must all get behind it.’

Sue Errington, Co-ordinator for Fairtrade Devon, was present 30 years at the inaugural meeting which led to the movement’s creation.

She said: ’I really didn’t think it was going to work but actually it’s been fantastic and there’s something like two million farmers now who are part of the scheme and benefiting from higher prices or wages.

‘Factor in the families and that’s ten million people who are positively impacted by people choosing to buy a Fairtrade banana or piece of chocolate so it’s been fantastically successful.’

Newton Abbot MP Martin Wrigley said: ‘I helped Dawlish become a Fairtrade town ten years ago and it’s flourished. It’s not virtue signalling, it’s reminding people that you have to make the market fair. Fair trade is fundamentally important.’

Bovey Tracey Town Councillor Steve Oldrieve oversees his town’s Fairtrade status and has offered to host Newton Abbot’s first meeting. He said: ‘We have a wider Devon coordinated Fairtrade group and we like to help each other when we can.’

Anyone interested in learning more about the Newton Abbot project can email [email protected] or call 01626 201120.