Lib Dems call for Camberley to become a Fair Trade Town

8.28.59pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 30th Jul 2006

Cllr Fran Bennie and Cllr Bob Smith want Camberley to become a 'fairtrade town'.

Lib Dem Councillors Bob Smith and Fran Bennie are calling on residents in Surrey Heath to support some of the poorest communities worldwide by buying products marked with the internationally-recognised "Fair Trade" mark. They want Surrey Heath to work towards "Fair Trade Town" status under a scheme organised by the Fair Trade Foundation.

The Fair Trade Town scheme seeks to encourage the take up of fair trade products by making sure that such products are available for sale in cafes and retailers in the area. A Fair Trade Town would join others up and down the country in organising events during "Fair Trade Fortnight" in March of each year.

Fair trade is a rapidly growing movement. Founded only ten years ago, there are now over 900 fair trade products, with total sales in the UK of £195m in 2005, a 40% increase in that year alone. Fair Trade Fortnight this year boasted some 10,000 events up and down the country.

Fair Trade Town status requires the local authority to actively support the initiative, and to work with other interested individuals and groups (such as Churches) to progress it. Councillors Smith and Bennie have submitted a motion calling on Surrey Heath Borough Council to do this, and to help with publicity on its website and its "Heathscene" magazine.

Cllr Fran Bennie said: " Fairtrade represents a partnership between people here and in the third world to improve opportunities for the poorest. Producers in the Fairtrade scheme are guaranteed a stable price for their produce and are required to reinvest a proportion of this premium in improving education and healthcare in their communities".

Cllr Bob Smith said: "This award has been achieved by some 75 towns nationally, with a further 220 working towards that status. Locally, Woking has achieved the accolade, whilst both Rushmoor and Waverley are working towards it. There are also a host of other parallel initiatives for Fair Trade Universities, Fair Trade Churches and so forth. I should like to see Camberley join this trend".

Cllr Duncan Clark, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Surrey Heath, said: "This initiative is about giving every resident the option to support producers overseas by buying fair trade products. Acting together, individuals can make a difference."