One of the posts on our local community Facebook page for the town asked for comments about how the town has changed in recent years.
Needless to say it has brought out the comments from the usual suspects moaning that there are too many “foreigners” in the town.
I live in rural North Dorset where agriculture plays an important role in the local economy. The town’s two largest employers are a laundry and a mushroom farm. I would imagine that they both employ a high proportion of low paid overseas workers on unsocial hours. Of course they contribute to the town’s economy by shopping and spending money locally.
It was announced last week that the farm is closing with the loss of nearly 90 jobs. No doubt those who bemoan the presence of “foreigners” in the town will celebrate the fact that there now may be less of them around; oblivious to the fact that the town’s economy is bound to suffer as a result.
I despair of the attitudes of some people in our community. I find it extraordinary that they can criticise “foreigners” who have travelled halfway across a continent in an attempt to make a better life for themselves and their families whilst a significant number of the Brits seem to find it difficult to even get out of bed in the morning to make a better life for their own families.
David Tibbles
