Defra’s Upland Policy Review published today (10 March) fails to recognise that the South West Uplands are unique and deserve special help – according to rural champions, the CLA.
CLA South West director, John Mortimer, said the report was fundamentally flawed in its assumption that hill farming could become economically viable in its own right.
“The Government’s ongoing support for the Uplands Entry Level Scheme is, of course, very welcome - but we do not see it as a long term solution to the economic hardship being seen in the hills.”
The Association said although it welcomed the pledge to establish a new rural Community Broadband Fund, the Government’s failure to differentiate between the Uplands and other parts of rural England was a mistake.
The CLA and the Commission for Rural Communities had called for a Defra Minister to be given direct responsibility for the Uplands to ensure policies were ‘Uplands proofed’ across Government. The CLA had also called for an independent group to monitor progress on Uplands policy delivery.
“Neither suggestion has been accepted in the review. The South West Uplands provide clean water, renewable energy, carbon capture, food and a wonderful variety of wildlife and landscapes so vital to our tourist industry but this report has failed to recognise that the Uplands are different from other rural areas and need specific and targeted support.”
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Mr Mortimer said that Defra had also chosen to ignore the joint request from the CLA and the CRC for national parks to have an explicit economic role, and had failed to support recommendations that planning policy should be eased to allow diversification in upland areas, and that retirement homes should be allowed on Uplands farms.
“The proposed Community Broadband Fund is certainly good news for the Uplands but it is vital the £20 million allocation is used wisely.
“Our advice is that the Government should use the money where demand can be proven and establish a series of grants for rural communities. Some of the money should also be used to create an effective toolkit to fully explain to people the benefits broadband will bring to the rural economy.”
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Job Vacancy
The CLA is a pro-active and forward thinking membership based organisation, committed to the positive development of the rural economy.
We have an opportunity for a high calibre individual with commitment and enthusiasm to recruit and retain members to the Association in south east Devon, southern Somerset & western Dorset.
The Field Officer role allows flexible working hours, including the possibility of working part time. The package includes excellent earning opportunities, training and continuing support. Working from home, the successful candidate will have a thorough understanding of rural life and knowledge of the territory, previous relevant sales experience and ideally live within the territory. They will be computer literate including a good knowledge of Microsoft Office and have access to e-mail. Use of a car and a full valid UK driving licence is essential.
For more information or to apply please email a cover letter and CV to:- lucy.wright@cla.org.uk to arrive no later than Monday 28 March. For information about the CLA visit our website at www.cla.org.uk
We have an opportunity for a high calibre individual with commitment and enthusiasm to recruit and retain members to the Association in south east Devon, southern Somerset & western Dorset.
The Field Officer role allows flexible working hours, including the possibility of working part time. The package includes excellent earning opportunities, training and continuing support. Working from home, the successful candidate will have a thorough understanding of rural life and knowledge of the territory, previous relevant sales experience and ideally live within the territory. They will be computer literate including a good knowledge of Microsoft Office and have access to e-mail. Use of a car and a full valid UK driving licence is essential.
For more information or to apply please email a cover letter and CV to:- lucy.wright@cla.org.uk to arrive no later than Monday 28 March. For information about the CLA visit our website at www.cla.org.uk
Thursday, March 3, 2011
CLA says it’s Time to Face the Future
CLA President, William Worsley, has today (Thursday 3 March) told landowners from across England and Wales that the farming industry will need to restructure to satisfy a world that demands more food of high quality and low price.
In a wide-ranging speech which covered farming, land management and the rural economy, Mr Worsley promised that the CLA would be brave enough to:” think the unthinkable, to grasp the nettle of difficult issues and continue to provide the long-term thought-leadership the industry and the public demanded.
“There is no sense in pretending farming will remain the same, it won’t - but we must not be afraid of change, we need to think far into the future, to prepare our members for what is around the corner, to make the coming decades brighter so that rural businesses can continue to survive and thrive.
Speaking at the CLA’s spring council meeting in London, Mr Worsley said that without a Common Agricultural Policy, farming as we know it would not exist.
“It is essential that we keep the CAP but we need to do so in a way that is acceptable to Society as a whole.”
The CLA, he said had relentlessly pursued the concept of “Food and Environmental Security” so that the CAP could help maintain the capacity to produce food while at the same time protecting and sustaining the natural environment.
“That means farmers need to be paid for producing food and for helping the environment,” he said.
Agri-environment schemes were, he said, key to environmental policy in England and Wales - providing the basic tools with which land managers achieve environmental goals.
“Generations of rural land managers have taken responsibility for the stewardship of the landscapes and habitats we all want to safeguard. The huge recreation and tourism industry their land supports bears witness to its beauty and popularity. The public wants to experience lovely landscapes and vibrant wildlife, pure water and clean air, but it all comes at a price. Those who manage the countryside must be properly rewarded for all they do.”
The CLA President promised that the CLA would continue to press the Government to go ahead with the proposals for a badger cull to start to tackle the “horrendous problem” of Bovine TB and also talked about the challenges of lobbying the Coalition Government, taxation issues, forestry, the Uplands, water, the crazy cost of coastal access and the need to modernise the public rights of way network. He said that, done well, the Localism Bill could boost much-needed entrepreneurship in the countryside but added that there were aspects of the Bill which horrified him.
Mr Worsley said the emergency review of the Feed-in Tariff to encourage more farm-based Anaerobic Digestion was a welcome response to CLA lobbying - but he warned that the Government had, at the same time, damaged investment in solar PV by fast-tracking a review of proposals for installations of over 50 kilowat.
In response to a question from the CLA South West representatives Mr Worlsey said the CLA would be pushing the Government very hard to maintain the currently agreed level of Feed-in Tariffs for solar energy.
He also called for reforms to the planning system which he said, was “too complicated and too expensive” and added that it was vital that rural businesses were served by a planning system that was fully effective.
“It is in our interest, and the interest of the nation, that rural business prospers. For this, we need the right policies – policies that are well considered, sensible and avoid excessive regulation” he said.
Notes To Newsdesks
A full copy of William Worsley’s speech to the CLA Councilcan be downloaded from the CLA website at: www.cla.org.uk
In a wide-ranging speech which covered farming, land management and the rural economy, Mr Worsley promised that the CLA would be brave enough to:” think the unthinkable, to grasp the nettle of difficult issues and continue to provide the long-term thought-leadership the industry and the public demanded.
“There is no sense in pretending farming will remain the same, it won’t - but we must not be afraid of change, we need to think far into the future, to prepare our members for what is around the corner, to make the coming decades brighter so that rural businesses can continue to survive and thrive.
Speaking at the CLA’s spring council meeting in London, Mr Worsley said that without a Common Agricultural Policy, farming as we know it would not exist.
“It is essential that we keep the CAP but we need to do so in a way that is acceptable to Society as a whole.”
The CLA, he said had relentlessly pursued the concept of “Food and Environmental Security” so that the CAP could help maintain the capacity to produce food while at the same time protecting and sustaining the natural environment.
“That means farmers need to be paid for producing food and for helping the environment,” he said.
Agri-environment schemes were, he said, key to environmental policy in England and Wales - providing the basic tools with which land managers achieve environmental goals.
“Generations of rural land managers have taken responsibility for the stewardship of the landscapes and habitats we all want to safeguard. The huge recreation and tourism industry their land supports bears witness to its beauty and popularity. The public wants to experience lovely landscapes and vibrant wildlife, pure water and clean air, but it all comes at a price. Those who manage the countryside must be properly rewarded for all they do.”
The CLA President promised that the CLA would continue to press the Government to go ahead with the proposals for a badger cull to start to tackle the “horrendous problem” of Bovine TB and also talked about the challenges of lobbying the Coalition Government, taxation issues, forestry, the Uplands, water, the crazy cost of coastal access and the need to modernise the public rights of way network. He said that, done well, the Localism Bill could boost much-needed entrepreneurship in the countryside but added that there were aspects of the Bill which horrified him.
Mr Worsley said the emergency review of the Feed-in Tariff to encourage more farm-based Anaerobic Digestion was a welcome response to CLA lobbying - but he warned that the Government had, at the same time, damaged investment in solar PV by fast-tracking a review of proposals for installations of over 50 kilowat.
In response to a question from the CLA South West representatives Mr Worlsey said the CLA would be pushing the Government very hard to maintain the currently agreed level of Feed-in Tariffs for solar energy.
He also called for reforms to the planning system which he said, was “too complicated and too expensive” and added that it was vital that rural businesses were served by a planning system that was fully effective.
“It is in our interest, and the interest of the nation, that rural business prospers. For this, we need the right policies – policies that are well considered, sensible and avoid excessive regulation” he said.
Notes To Newsdesks
A full copy of William Worsley’s speech to the CLA Councilcan be downloaded from the CLA website at: www.cla.org.uk
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