Support highlights farmers plights

NFU leaders successfully delivered a letter of complaint to the Rural Payments Agency in Carlisle which was instantly typed into an email and sent direct to the agency's chief executive, Mark Addison.

The NFU's North West regional management board chairman Peter Allen, who farms at Bampton in Cumbria, led the delegation that travelled up to the agency offices at Eden Bridge House in Carlisle at 2pm on Friday 06 April.

Contained inside the letter were details of how the NFU in the North West felt the RPA's inability to pay the Single Farm Payment on time was nothing short of scandalous. The letter was given to Jane Swanton who is in charge of processing Single Farm Payment application forms at Carlisle.

Mr Allen was joined by NFU Cumbrian County Chairman Trevor Wilson, NFU Cartmel branch chairman Howard Martin and NFU Carlisle branch chairman Kevin Barker. They all discussed their fears and concerns with the media who'd congregated outside the RPA's offices.

Speaking to the media after handing over the letter, Mr Allen said: "Yes we are angry, frustrated and bitter about the way the Single Farm Payment has been handled.

"Many in our community are desperate and there are businesses at serious risk of collapse. But here in Cumbria the farming community is nothing if not resilient - and we will carry on and we will adapt to the changes being placed upon us and our industry.

"But we expect and deserve better from those in Government and in organisations like the RPA who have so much influence over our lives and livelihoods."

"We decided to take the letter to the RPA at Carlisle in person to strongly reiterate the message our President Peter Kendall is constantly trying to convey to the RPA and to highlight that this problem is not just the fault of the RPA but the Government as well. It's high time Secretary of State Margaret Beckett accepted that and stood up to be counted." "We want action and we want it now."