ALMOST a full house of producers from First Milk’s Kintyre milk field attended a meeting in Campbeltown on Monday night to discuss the co-op's impending sale of the local creamery.

The meeting, hosted by NFU Scotland, was led by its chief executive Scott Walker and milk committee chairman John Smith.

Attendee, and former First Milk area representative Sandy Pirie from Machrihanish, said: “The meeting certainly wasn’t a bun fight as some had expected. Everyone who attended had their say. There was some support for a producer buy-out, but others were against such a move.

“A lot of things are up in the air, but the positive is that everyone involved wants to work together to find a solution to the closure.”

Afterwards, NFUS issued the following statement:“It was a very productive and positive meeting with a genuine willingness from milk producers to work with any credible buyer to explore all options. The producers are 100% committed to continuing with dairy production in Kintyre and the good news for the future is that many of those looking to expand and grow their business are also young farmers.

“All are justifiably proud of the excellent quality and provenance of Mull of Kintyre cheese, along with the Scottish Pride brand," said NFUS. “For potential buyers or partners, they wish to highlight that they are a concentrated milk field, all within close proximity to the Campbeltown creamery, on a grass-based dairy system, with a fantastic story to tell."

The union was due to meet with First Milk chief executive Shelagh Hancock and co-op vice chairman Jim Baird this week to discuss the terms of the prospectus for the sale of the creamery. Information from that meeting will be fed back to producers before a date for a further meeting is set.

A First Milk spokesman told The Scottish Farmer: “We are committed to finding a buyer and will work with our members in the area and other organisations including the NFUS to achieve this.”

It is understood Ms Hancock and Mr Baird will meet with Mr Smith and the union’s milk policy manager George Jamieson.