The news that ONE Northeast and Northumberland County Council have teamed up to ease the burden for farmers faced with disposing of dead sheep following last weekend"e;s flooding has been applauded by the CLA, but it warns that other rural agencies must follow the example.
Angus Collingwoodā€“Cameron, CLA North East Director, said: "I must congratulate ONE and the Council for reacting so quickly to help those farmers who have been devastated by the flooding. After the events of last weekend, being forced to pay for the disposal of somebody else"e;s dead sheep just because they washed up on your land was a real kick in the teeth for many farmers.
"I can only hope that all the other agencies who will be involved in the aftermath will act with such speed and understanding. The flooding has caused many physical changes, with man made and natural features having been greatly altered or even obliterated. In some places, rivers have changed their course. This will impact on the work of the likes of the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Rural Payments Agency. They must appreciate force majeure and allow common sense to prevail with no penalty to the farmer involved. The last thing that these businesses need is to be hampered by petty bureaucracy as they try to get through this terrible period."