Report slams ‘inadequate’ support for hill farmers

Dr Stuart Burgess, chairman of the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC), published the hard-hitting results to his extensive inquiry into the future of upland communities today (Tuesday, June 15).

He said upland communities provided ‘a wealth of natural and cultural assets’ and had the potential to create ‘many valuable goods’.

But he warned their survival was threatened by a lack of economic support.

The inquiry challenged the Government to increase EU support to hill farmers as part of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy from 2013.

George Dunn, Tenant Farmers Association chief executive, welcomed the call to sustain hill farmers.

“Without the hill community in the uplands making money from ruminant livestock production, the landscape will change out of all recognition in a short period of time. Once it has gone it will be nearly impossible to get back,” he said.

Dr Burgess also called for a ‘fundamental shift’ in the way the uplands were viewed. He said the uplands should not be seen as ‘a disadvantage’ and instead advised the Government to appoint an individual to develop an uplands strategy to unlock its economic potential.

The uplands, which cover 17 per cent of England and are home to around 2 million people, should be an economic goldmine he said.

“Rather than be seen as areas of disadvantage, they should be considered for their high potential to offer significant public benefits,” he said.

The report emphasised the need to increase the availability of affordable rural housing and broadband internet connections to help stimulate business in uplands communities.

Dr Burgess was also keen to stress the environmental importance of the uplands, in particular carbon storage and water management.

Upland peatlands store 200 million tonnes of carbon, provide 70 per cent of UK drinking water and farmers have a vital role in looking after those resources, he said. 

The report has been largely welcomed by the agricultural community, however the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) said it ‘lacked depth’.

In particular Henry Robinson, CLA vice-president, said it missed a trick on renewable energy.  

“It would be preferable if the report had gone further in recognising the need to remove some of the restrictions, particularly within the planning system, that inhibit the roll-out of alternative sources of supplying energy,” he said.

He also questioned the report’s call for a Government appointee to roll out a new upland policy.

“We have little faith in national strategies for the uplands,” he said.

The CRC report ‘High ground, high potential – a future for England’s upland communities’ can be found at: www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk.

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