More on Foot and Mouth
September 27, 2007
John Collins, Chairman, ACU’s Trials and Enduro Committee wishes to clarify the situation regarding organised motorcycle sport taking place on agricultural land or off road. The ACU advises clubs and competitors to take advice from their respective landowner who will be receiving the relevant up to date information from DEFRA and Animal Health authorities. If there is any concern or apprehension from the landowner in running the event, then it is only correct to cancel the event. The DEFRA website, http://www.defra.gov.uk, advises the following on access to the countryside; Is the countryside open? Are footpaths open? There is no need for people to stop visiting the countryside. At the present time, the only impacts on visitor attractions and rights of way outside the infected premises are those which result from the closures of some footpaths and access land within the Protection Zone and restrictions on animal movements and events involving susceptible animals. The Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone around Normandy and Elstead have been lifted and with them all rights of way and land closures, apart from those on the infected premises. Access to land We have learnt the lessons of the experience of the 2001 outbreak and would not close down the countryside if it is not justified by the disease risk. Current veterinary advice is that, except within a Protection Zone (PZ) (an area of minimum 3km radius around an infected premises), the risk of rights of way users and other visitors to the countryside spreading disease is negligible. Access to the countryside and in particular to rights of way, may only be restricted within the Protection Zone and only then if it is felt too risky to keep them open. There is a balance to be struck between the need to control Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and the need to enable the public to have continued access to the countryside and rights of way for exercise, recreation, and just getting from A to B. Thus, any decision to close land over which there is a public right of way, or where there is public open space or a right of access to open country, would only be taken only when it is clearly necessary to do so. The countryside remains open. However, footpaths and access land on the infected premises and in the protection zone may be closed where it is considered that they pose a risk. There is no need for people to stop visiting the countryside and, at the present time, the only impacts on visitor attractions outside the Surveillance Zone are those which result from the restrictions on animal movements and events involving susceptible animals. Jim Collins said, “The ACU’s policy will not be to run events in a Protection Zone (PZ), but events are allowed to run in a Surveillance Zone, subject of course to the landowners advice and consultation with DEFRA and obviously following all necessary precautions.” This week two Temporary Control Zones had been set-up in Hampshire, after landowners suspected Foot and Mouth to livestock. Following tests that have proved negative both of these Temporary Control Zones have been lifted today (Tuesday 25th September). Following discussion with DEFRA and the Trials and Enduro Committee the is no current reason why the Metzeler British Enduro Championship Round scheduled for this weekend 29th/30th September 2007 at Weaver Down, Liphook should not take place.Send this article to a friend
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