Last week, as the agricultural correspondent of this paper, I was privileged to be invited by James Heappey, the Conservative candidate for Wells, to meet the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Owen Paterson MP.
Mr Paterson was in the area to visit the Bath and West Show and to investigate what progress has been made in the aftermath of last winter’s devastating floods on the Somerset Levels.
Having never met Mr Paterson before, my overriding impression was of a man who is committed to and knowledgeable about rural issues. He was questioned hard by a small group of farmers, landowners and rural professionals and he demonstrated that he had an in depth knowledge of a variety of subjects although the conversation was dominated by the ongoing impact that TB is having on so many livestock farmers in this area.
On this subject Mr Paterson was quite clear that the culling of badgers will remain part of the ongoing policy to eradicate the disease in cattle. The culling will continue in the two pilot areas in west Somerset and Gloucestershire and in the longer term he would like to see these areas extended widely throughout the counties which are badly affected by the disease.
He did also emphasise the need for continued bio-security measures in cattle which already involves a strict testing regime and culling of infected animals but this alone, he explained, will simply not eradicate the disease.
Other measures including vaccination of both cattle and badgers may become part of the strategy in the future but further research in to diagnostic tests and vaccinations and changes to European legislation will be required before such measures can be employed widely and cost effectively.
On the matter of flooding, which was another hot topic, he emphasised the need for local farmers, landowners, the Internal Drainage Boards, County and District Councils, the Environment Agency and conservation organisations to work in partnership to set up a Rivers Board to manage the rivers and other waterways in the long term to prevent a repeat of last winter’s problems.
He was keen to know how the EA was getting on with the initial dredging works on the Parrett and the Tone which has been funded by government. He was concerned that such work should not be held up by local bureaucracy, whether that be because of unnecessary health and safety or environmental hurdles but equally he emphasised the point that in the longer term it will be up to local organisations to sort this out for themselves.
He noted that in other parts of the country such as in Lincolnshire, landowners and farmers seemed to work well in partnership with the EA and he saw no reason why such arrangements cannot be put in place more effectively on the Somerset Levels. It seemed to me he was clearly setting down some parameters for the future in that although government have been willing to help with funds to “pump prime” the initial capital works, the ongoing responsibility will fall to local organisations to work much more effectively going forward with each other.
So, all in all, it was a fascinating insight in to the thinking of government at a high level and I came away with the feeling that we at least had someone in charge who understood the needs of the countryside which is a far cry from the dark years of Margaret Beckett’s leadership of DEFRA under the last Labour government.
Mr Paterson was in the area to visit the Bath and West Show and to investigate what progress has been made in the aftermath of last winter’s devastating floods on the Somerset Levels.
Having never met Mr Paterson before, my overriding impression was of a man who is committed to and knowledgeable about rural issues. He was questioned hard by a small group of farmers, landowners and rural professionals and he demonstrated that he had an in depth knowledge of a variety of subjects although the conversation was dominated by the ongoing impact that TB is having on so many livestock farmers in this area.
On this subject Mr Paterson was quite clear that the culling of badgers will remain part of the ongoing policy to eradicate the disease in cattle. The culling will continue in the two pilot areas in west Somerset and Gloucestershire and in the longer term he would like to see these areas extended widely throughout the counties which are badly affected by the disease.
He did also emphasise the need for continued bio-security measures in cattle which already involves a strict testing regime and culling of infected animals but this alone, he explained, will simply not eradicate the disease.
Other measures including vaccination of both cattle and badgers may become part of the strategy in the future but further research in to diagnostic tests and vaccinations and changes to European legislation will be required before such measures can be employed widely and cost effectively.
On the matter of flooding, which was another hot topic, he emphasised the need for local farmers, landowners, the Internal Drainage Boards, County and District Councils, the Environment Agency and conservation organisations to work in partnership to set up a Rivers Board to manage the rivers and other waterways in the long term to prevent a repeat of last winter’s problems.
He was keen to know how the EA was getting on with the initial dredging works on the Parrett and the Tone which has been funded by government. He was concerned that such work should not be held up by local bureaucracy, whether that be because of unnecessary health and safety or environmental hurdles but equally he emphasised the point that in the longer term it will be up to local organisations to sort this out for themselves.
He noted that in other parts of the country such as in Lincolnshire, landowners and farmers seemed to work well in partnership with the EA and he saw no reason why such arrangements cannot be put in place more effectively on the Somerset Levels. It seemed to me he was clearly setting down some parameters for the future in that although government have been willing to help with funds to “pump prime” the initial capital works, the ongoing responsibility will fall to local organisations to work much more effectively going forward with each other.
So, all in all, it was a fascinating insight in to the thinking of government at a high level and I came away with the feeling that we at least had someone in charge who understood the needs of the countryside which is a far cry from the dark years of Margaret Beckett’s leadership of DEFRA under the last Labour government.
James Stephen MRICS FAAV
Partner
Rural Practice Chartered Surveyor, Wells
T: 01749 683381
E: james.stephen@carterjonas.co.uk
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