Cumbrian commoners restart the process for a 'commons council' due to Brexit

Commoners are people who have recognised rights to carry out farming practices on designated common land
Commoners are people who have recognised rights to carry out farming practices on designated common land

Cumbrian commoners have revived plans for a 'commons council' to ensure commoning 'remains viable' in a post-Brexit world.

Commons councils are statutory organisations - this means they’re recognised by law, and can make legally binding rules for how people use common land. These legally binding rules can help if commoners, landowners and others with an interest in the common can’t agree about how to manage the land. They’re run by council members who are elected by commoners, with seats on the council for landowners and others who have a legal interest in the common.

"Brexit is a game changer for agriculture," a spokesperson for the Federation of Cumbria Commoners said, "the government of the United Kingdom will have to develop its own policy towards farming and rural land use to replace the Common Agricultural Policy."

"If commoning is to remain viable in this post-Brexit world, then commoners need to have a voice in the design of new agricultural policy and systems of payment. We believe a commons council for Cumbria is now more necessary than ever. It will give us better chance of getting heard and help us maintain the commons and promote good standards of livestock husbandry."

Kick-starting the commons council process again

In 2011 the Federation of Cumbria Commoners developed a proposal to establish a Commons Council for Cumbria, consulted widely and organised a vote. There were enough Commoners’ Associations who voted in favour to warrant applying to Defra to establish a commons council.

The Federation describes the timing as 'not right', as most commoners had priorities favouring the negotiation and securement of the Upland Entry and Higher Level Stewardship rather than get involved in starting a commons council.

The Federation states: "The Brexit result has changed everything and we now want to take up where we left off."

The Federation has written to the Chairmen of 75 Commoners' Assocations to offer the opportunity to take part in establishing a commons council.