THE idea of stacking pint bottles of milk next to the lunchtime offering at a supermarket has been praised by a Cornwall Councillor, who is urging his colleagues to support the dairy industry.

Last week, the Post reported that the idea put forward by Lewdown farmer and Lewtrenchard WI member Sylvia Crocker to her local Tesco store at Launceston had been implemented, and other Tesco branches in Cornwall and Devon had also taken on the idea — with the possibility of it being rolled out in Tesco stores nationally.

At a meeting of Cornwall Council on May 17, Conservative Councillor for Altarnun, Vivian Hall, praised the idea and asked if it could be copied in Cornwall Council canteens.

Cllr Hall said at the meeting at County Hall, Truro: “I hope all members realise we should be supporting our great Cornish dairy farmers at every opportunity, especially at this time of great pressure on farm incomes and the milk price.

“I hope this administration understand the huge impact of current circumstances on farming families across the county and I believe that they can do something very simple to help.”

Cllr Hall then asked Cllr Jeremy Rowe, the Liberal Democrat member for St Issey and St Tudy, who is the council’s portfolio holder for localism, if individual pints of milk could be displayed next to the sandwich selection in Cornwall Council buildings where catering is supplied.

Cllr Rowe said the council does not directly run any catering facilities, and at all four office sites where cafes exist, the facilities are tenanted.

Cllr Rowe added: “As members will know, we are in the process of re-tendering the opportunity and will seek ways to emphasise the importance of using local suppliers. I welcome Cllr Hall’s input into this matter which I will pass on to that process.

“As someone from a farming background and who has family members still involved in dairy I hope he will be assured of my support for agriculture in Cornwall, a view that I’m sure is shared by most if not all members.”