TARFF VALLEY COOPERATIVE SOCIETY - BOON FOR THE AREA, SAYS HUME (Jim Hume)

TARFF VALLEY COOPERATIVE SOCIETY - BOON FOR THE AREA, SAYS HUME

November 4, 2008 12:00 AM

Jim Hume, MSP for the South of Scotland, last week reinforced the need for continued funding for Cooperative Development Scotland (CDS) in a bid to increase the cooperative movement across the South of Scotland.

Jim Hume said:

"The recent debate and setting up of a Cross Party Group on Cooperatives were both timely. Many believe the South of Scotland to be the birthplace of the cooperative movement was through philanthropist and businessman, Robert Owen's, work in the New Lanark cotton mills.

"There are huge benefits to be gained from a group of individuals owning and running their own organisation, and this concept of mutual ownership is especially relevant now given the extremely difficult economics we currently face.

"Cooperatives come in many forms providing all manner of services - agricultural, social, housing, retail and many more - the founding principle being the idea that the members have a relationship with the enterprise as producers or consumers of its products or services, or as employees.

The MSP continued:

"One such successful example is Tarff Valley Agriculture Merchants which was established in 1903 by Mr Walter Montgomerie Neilson as Tarff Valley Agricultural Cooperative Society Ltd. As the local laird, he saw financial advantages for his tenant farmers in forming a cooperative to buy supplies of coal and lime, to be delivered by rail to Tarff Station on the Castle Douglas to Kirkcudbright branch line.

"Tarff Valley is going from strength to strength and now has branches in Dumfries, Castle Douglas, Whauphill, Glenluce, Longtown and Castle Kennedy supplying a range of agricultural products. Its new depot on the outskirts of Dumfries is being opened on 17th November.

"With roughly 700 members and a turnover of about £12m, Tarff Valley is a prefect example of the real and significant contribution cooperatives make to the local economy and their importance in helping to sustain a whole sector and individual small to medium sized businesses, often found in rural areas like the South West of Scotland."

ENDS