Farmers should make land unattractive to ravers

"Keep your eyes and ears open in the run up to the August Bank Holiday, and do everything you can to make your land unattractive to ravers," that’s the advise to local farmers from NFU Cymru Pembrokeshire County Chairman, Mike McNamara, on the first day of the county show.

Three times in the past eight years doesn’t sound a lot but that’s how many times this quiet corner of Wales has been invaded by thousands of party-goers. The most recent event, attended by some 2,500 people, was at the end of May and the court action is on-going.

Mike McNamara warns, "This could happen again in any area of rural Wales. Each of these past events have involved a large number of people occupying land without piped water or toilet facilities and the use of very loud music equipment. Also, once the party is over the site has been left strewn with litter, broken glass, used needles and human waste."

NFU Cymru sets out some points for local farmers to consider:

• Farmers should be very careful about ’inviting’ people onto their land. If a farmer accepts a few cans of beer to allow the first small group of revellers onto his land, the authorities are capable of construing this as an open invitation for thousands to hold an illegal gathering.

• The occupier of land has every legal right to block entrances onto his land providing he does not block a right of way.

• Any litter or waste left on private land after such an event is the responsibility of the occupier.

• Farmers are under no obligation to move livestock away from the vicinity of land occupied by trespassers.

Mr McNamara said, "In the most recent case Pembrokeshire County Council were proactive and supportive during and after the rave. We would advise any farmer who may have the misfortune to be the victim of this type of event in the future to contact the relevant authority to ensure they act in a similar manner.

"If the authorities ask a farmer to allow ’ravers’ onto their land then farmers have the right to expect the authorities to make themselves responsible for the protection of the farmer, their family, employees, livestock, property and the consequent clean-up operation. Farmers have every right to ask for assurances to this effect as soon as they become aware that their land might be illegally occupied."