GENERAL NEWS
BPS PAYMENTS FOR 2015
Please find below a copy of an email exchange between our Chairman, Dr. Graham Ferris, and Simon Lunnis of the RPA, that he felt appropriate to share with members, the information we have received from DEFRA/RPA regarding the BPS payments for 2015 Claims, and the CDA’s initial response.
Dear Graham,
When we spoke yesterday, I agreed to write to you confirming the main points of our conversation.
As you will of course be aware, the size and complexity of the New Forest (27,000 ha and 535 land parcels) has posed a real challenge for us in making BPS 2015 payments. We were able to make a number of payments last week and are anticipating batching payments for the bulk of New Forest graziers this week, with money landing in bank accounts early next week.
In terms of the calculation of BPS 2015 payments, as there is no rights register available to use as a basis for allocating the eligible area of the Forest, we are allocating the area based on the LU equivalent of the number of marking fees that a grazier paid in 2014 and declared in their BPS 2015 application, as a proportion of the total number of marking fees declared by all graziers in 2014. So, the BPS 2015 allocation is based on the number of marking fees paid, and declared, for stock turned out in the Forest in 2014. We have established this figure as 6,470 LU (allowing for rounding), up about 4% on the LUs claimed in the Forest for SPS 2014.
For area, on the basis of our mapping exercise we have established the eligible area of the New Forest as being 15,251 ha, although this will be subject to some further adjustment during our planned reconciliation process as there are two large land parcels with a total area > 900ha that are still being digitised and published on our system. The total area is obviously significantly less than the 18,846 ha that were allocated to activate entitlements in the Forest for SPS 2014 and reflects the work done by our mapping specialists to assess the eligibility of new Forest land parcels, applying the same standards and protocols derived from EU guidance that we use for all our mapping. Combining the LUs claimed and eligible area as now mapped gives a figure for allocated area of just under 2.4 ha/LU, compared with the figure negotiated and agreed for use under SPS of 3.03 ha/LU.
I hope this is helpful, please don’t hesitate to give me a ring if you have any further questions.
Best wishes,
Simon
Dear Simon,Thank you for your e mail and telephone conversation.
The CDA believes that the sequence of actions in response should be:-
1)Make the second payment for 2015 claims to all New Forest Commoners as soon as possible.
2)Complete the analysis of the two outstanding landparcels and make a third payment of 2015 claims if appropriate.
3)Discuss and decide what process is to be used so that New Forest Commoners can understand and be satisfied that :-
i)All the missing areas of the New Forest which were identified in the previous review some 18months ago have been included.
ii)the criteria and methodology that have been applied to determine how much of the total area is “eligible” are appropriate and that the results can be confirmed on the ground.
4)Implement 3) above
5)In light of 4) above agree if the conclusions in your e mail regarding the Total Eligible Area are correct.
6)In light of 5) determine the extent to which New Forest Commoners were financially disadvantaged by the inordinate delay in determining the Total Eligible Area and making payment for the 2015 claims.
7)Determine whether the outcome of 5) leads to “MInchinhampton” style claims for retrospective correction.
8)Agree how the process for handling 2016 claims will be improved .
Kind Regards
Dr Graham Ferris (Chair, New Forest Commoners Defence Association)
Please find below a copy of an email exchange between our Chairman, Dr. Graham Ferris, and Simon Lunnis of the RPA, that he felt appropriate to share with members, the information we have received from DEFRA/RPA regarding the BPS payments for 2015 Claims, and the CDA’s initial response.
Dear Graham,
When we spoke yesterday, I agreed to write to you confirming the main points of our conversation.
As you will of course be aware, the size and complexity of the New Forest (27,000 ha and 535 land parcels) has posed a real challenge for us in making BPS 2015 payments. We were able to make a number of payments last week and are anticipating batching payments for the bulk of New Forest graziers this week, with money landing in bank accounts early next week.
In terms of the calculation of BPS 2015 payments, as there is no rights register available to use as a basis for allocating the eligible area of the Forest, we are allocating the area based on the LU equivalent of the number of marking fees that a grazier paid in 2014 and declared in their BPS 2015 application, as a proportion of the total number of marking fees declared by all graziers in 2014. So, the BPS 2015 allocation is based on the number of marking fees paid, and declared, for stock turned out in the Forest in 2014. We have established this figure as 6,470 LU (allowing for rounding), up about 4% on the LUs claimed in the Forest for SPS 2014.
For area, on the basis of our mapping exercise we have established the eligible area of the New Forest as being 15,251 ha, although this will be subject to some further adjustment during our planned reconciliation process as there are two large land parcels with a total area > 900ha that are still being digitised and published on our system. The total area is obviously significantly less than the 18,846 ha that were allocated to activate entitlements in the Forest for SPS 2014 and reflects the work done by our mapping specialists to assess the eligibility of new Forest land parcels, applying the same standards and protocols derived from EU guidance that we use for all our mapping. Combining the LUs claimed and eligible area as now mapped gives a figure for allocated area of just under 2.4 ha/LU, compared with the figure negotiated and agreed for use under SPS of 3.03 ha/LU.
I hope this is helpful, please don’t hesitate to give me a ring if you have any further questions.
Best wishes,
Simon
Dear Simon,Thank you for your e mail and telephone conversation.
The CDA believes that the sequence of actions in response should be:-
1)Make the second payment for 2015 claims to all New Forest Commoners as soon as possible.
2)Complete the analysis of the two outstanding landparcels and make a third payment of 2015 claims if appropriate.
3)Discuss and decide what process is to be used so that New Forest Commoners can understand and be satisfied that :-
i)All the missing areas of the New Forest which were identified in the previous review some 18months ago have been included.
ii)the criteria and methodology that have been applied to determine how much of the total area is “eligible” are appropriate and that the results can be confirmed on the ground.
4)Implement 3) above
5)In light of 4) above agree if the conclusions in your e mail regarding the Total Eligible Area are correct.
6)In light of 5) determine the extent to which New Forest Commoners were financially disadvantaged by the inordinate delay in determining the Total Eligible Area and making payment for the 2015 claims.
7)Determine whether the outcome of 5) leads to “MInchinhampton” style claims for retrospective correction.
8)Agree how the process for handling 2016 claims will be improved .
Kind Regards
Dr Graham Ferris (Chair, New Forest Commoners Defence Association)
PRESS RELEASE
What Future for Our Iconic Cultural heritage?
Brexit Vote raises concerns for Common Land
The vote by the United Kingdom to leave the EU will have profound implications for many National Parks whose commoners maintain these iconic places. As part of the Uplands Alliance, the Foundation for Common Land has offered to help Defra shape a new positive future for our uplands. We also have immediate concerns that the short-term uncertainty surrounding environmental stewardship schemes places the cultural and natural heritage of commons at risk.
Over 4,500 commoners look after England’s most designated and highly valued resource – common land. Iconic examples of commons in England are Blencathra, Scafell Pike, Pen-y-Ghent, the New Forest, and the Dartmoor Tors.
Essential to looking after these places is the sustainable management by commoners. Most run small marginal businesses where support payments represents over 40% of their gross farm income. These are required because the market does not pay commoners sufficient money for their beef and lamb to also maintain the cultural and environmental benefits of common land. To correct this market failure the government pays farmers through stewardship schemes to look after our heritage but uncertainty now surrounds these schemes.
Julia Aglionby, Executive Director of the Foundation for Common Land says, “In the short term farmers need to know:
The Foundation for Common Land has already started discussions with other members of the Uplands Alliance to help shape a new post Brexit future for the Uplands and a meeting is planned for September to collectively pool our thinking.
ENDS
27th June 2016
For further information on Foundation for Common Land please contact Julia Aglionby, 07702 100111 or e-mail julia@foundationforcommonland.org.uk
Notes to Editors
The Foundation for Common Land
The Foundation for Common Land is a Registered Charity, our charitable objectives are
What Future for Our Iconic Cultural heritage?
Brexit Vote raises concerns for Common Land
The vote by the United Kingdom to leave the EU will have profound implications for many National Parks whose commoners maintain these iconic places. As part of the Uplands Alliance, the Foundation for Common Land has offered to help Defra shape a new positive future for our uplands. We also have immediate concerns that the short-term uncertainty surrounding environmental stewardship schemes places the cultural and natural heritage of commons at risk.
Over 4,500 commoners look after England’s most designated and highly valued resource – common land. Iconic examples of commons in England are Blencathra, Scafell Pike, Pen-y-Ghent, the New Forest, and the Dartmoor Tors.
Essential to looking after these places is the sustainable management by commoners. Most run small marginal businesses where support payments represents over 40% of their gross farm income. These are required because the market does not pay commoners sufficient money for their beef and lamb to also maintain the cultural and environmental benefits of common land. To correct this market failure the government pays farmers through stewardship schemes to look after our heritage but uncertainty now surrounds these schemes.
Julia Aglionby, Executive Director of the Foundation for Common Land says, “In the short term farmers need to know:
- whether Defra and Natural England will honour current agreements for their remaining duration (some run till 2024)
- if farmers enter schemes during the Brexit negotiations will they run for their full term?”
The Foundation for Common Land has already started discussions with other members of the Uplands Alliance to help shape a new post Brexit future for the Uplands and a meeting is planned for September to collectively pool our thinking.
ENDS
27th June 2016
For further information on Foundation for Common Land please contact Julia Aglionby, 07702 100111 or e-mail julia@foundationforcommonland.org.uk
Notes to Editors
- Commons provide more public benefits per area of land than almost any other type of land. This outstanding value and uniqueness arises from hundreds of years of active management by people working collaboratively to meet their livelihood needs. 58% of common land is designated as SSSIs, over 80% is in designated landscapes and 38% of our moorland is registered common land.
- The term ‘common land’ derives from the fact that multiple people own rights to graze over the same area of land (i.e.in common) not as often mistakenly thought that the public owns the commons.
The Foundation for Common Land
The Foundation for Common Land is a Registered Charity, our charitable objectives are
- To conserve for the benefit of the public the agricultural systems and the cultural landscapes delivered by commoning and the management of common land.
- To promote the conservation of the physical and natural environment by supporting the responsible and sustainable pastoral use of common land
- To conduct and commission research into commoning and common land issues and publish the results of such research
- to the public at large
- To educate the public in subjects pertaining to commoning and common land
national_grid_proposals_july_2016.pdf
For details on - Proposals to remove a section of National Grid’s overhead transmission line in the New Forest National Park, please on the above link for the full document
For details on - Proposals to remove a section of National Grid’s overhead transmission line in the New Forest National Park, please on the above link for the full document
Dedicated resource to reduce animal accidents on roads in the New Forest. From October 2014, one of Hampshire Constabulary’s speed enforcement officers who’s dedicated to the New Forest, will be using new technology, effective at night, to concentrate on reducing animal related accidents as the nights become longer. Concerned at the number of commoners’ livestock killed or injured on the unfenced roads across the Forest, the NFCDA has developed a project in partnership with the New Forest Verderers and Agisters and Hampshire Police to highlight the dangers on key routes through the forest, especially at dusk and dawn. The speed enforcement officer will primarily work on routes which have been identified due to human casualties or animal deaths in the past. In 2013 seventy two animals were killed in road traffic collisions in the New Forest, a further thirty two were injured. It’s hoped that the number of driver casualties and animals that are killed or injured will be reduced this year with the introduction of this new initiative. Alongside speed enforcement Hampshire Constabulary will: * Address the issue during driver awareness training sessions. * Continue to use the Country Watch exhibition trailer to display animal accident information. * Distribute questionnaires to drivers who have been involved in accidents. The speed enforcement officer who will be dedicated to accident hot spots in the New Forest said: “I’m delighted that by working in partnership with the CDA, Verderers and Agisters we are able to provide a dedicated resource to tackle this serious issue in the New Forest.” Jonathan Gerrelli, Head Agister and a Commoner said that “Autumn is an especially important time of year as it gets dark earlier and some drivers may not realise that the risk of accidents involving animals on rural roads will increase because of that.” |
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New Forest National Park- National Grid Visual Impact Provision project for high voltage pylons
As you may be aware, in November 2014, a section of existing electricity transmission line near the village of Hale in the New Forest National Park was shortlisted as part of National Grid’s Visual Impact Provision (VIP) project. As chair of the New Forest CDA could you possibly note the details of the stakeholder drop in event and let your members know of the event as described below.
The project is making use of a £500 million allowance made available by Ofgem until 2021 to reduce the visual impact of existing electricity transmission lines in protected landscapes in Great Britain. The shortlist was compiled following a landscape and visual impact assessment, commissioned by National Grid, which identified the line section in New Forest National Park along with 11 others as having the most significant landscape and visual impact.
National Grid and the New Forest National Park Authority are currently working together to investigate whether it is possible to mitigate the impact of this section of transmission line. To further inform this process and ensure that the project benefits from the in-depth knowledge and expertise of those local stakeholders who know the area best, we will be hosting a drop in event on Thursday, March 5th 2015 at Hale Village Hall, Hatchett Green, from 2pm until 8pm.
We would like to invite you to attend this event which will give you the opportunity to talk with members of the project team and share any information which we may need to take into account as part of this initial study. The information that we gain from this session will be used as a key part of a report on this section of line which will be fed back to the project’s Stakeholder Advisory Group in April 2015.
I hope that you will be able to attend this event. If you think that others may be interested in attending this event, please do invite them along. You can also find more detailed information on the VIP project and the study in New Forest by visiting www.nationalgrid.com/vip or by emailing us at visualimpact@nationalgrid.com.
Yours sincerely
Hector Pearson Sarah Kelly
National Grid VIP Project Manager Landscape Officer, New Forest National Park Authority
As you may be aware, in November 2014, a section of existing electricity transmission line near the village of Hale in the New Forest National Park was shortlisted as part of National Grid’s Visual Impact Provision (VIP) project. As chair of the New Forest CDA could you possibly note the details of the stakeholder drop in event and let your members know of the event as described below.
The project is making use of a £500 million allowance made available by Ofgem until 2021 to reduce the visual impact of existing electricity transmission lines in protected landscapes in Great Britain. The shortlist was compiled following a landscape and visual impact assessment, commissioned by National Grid, which identified the line section in New Forest National Park along with 11 others as having the most significant landscape and visual impact.
National Grid and the New Forest National Park Authority are currently working together to investigate whether it is possible to mitigate the impact of this section of transmission line. To further inform this process and ensure that the project benefits from the in-depth knowledge and expertise of those local stakeholders who know the area best, we will be hosting a drop in event on Thursday, March 5th 2015 at Hale Village Hall, Hatchett Green, from 2pm until 8pm.
We would like to invite you to attend this event which will give you the opportunity to talk with members of the project team and share any information which we may need to take into account as part of this initial study. The information that we gain from this session will be used as a key part of a report on this section of line which will be fed back to the project’s Stakeholder Advisory Group in April 2015.
I hope that you will be able to attend this event. If you think that others may be interested in attending this event, please do invite them along. You can also find more detailed information on the VIP project and the study in New Forest by visiting www.nationalgrid.com/vip or by emailing us at visualimpact@nationalgrid.com.
Yours sincerely
Hector Pearson Sarah Kelly
National Grid VIP Project Manager Landscape Officer, New Forest National Park Authority
2008-2013 LEADER Programme
Following the consultation meeting with the NFCDA on the 20th March 2014, Sally Igra of the NFDC has provided a summary of the achievements of the 2008-2013 LEADER Programme. To view this, please CLICK BELOW.
Following the consultation meeting with the NFCDA on the 20th March 2014, Sally Igra of the NFDC has provided a summary of the achievements of the 2008-2013 LEADER Programme. To view this, please CLICK BELOW.
cda_consultation-_leader_fact_sheet_sept_13.docx | |
File Size: | 206 kb |
File Type: | docx |
TB In Cattle - Advice and Regulations
There may be some confusion amongst cattle owners over the rules concerning TB testing, movements, and exemptions. For the most up to date advice please visit DEFRA's website for clarification.
There may be some confusion amongst cattle owners over the rules concerning TB testing, movements, and exemptions. For the most up to date advice please visit DEFRA's website for clarification.
Legal Liability for your depastured animals
There have been a few instances recently where commoners have been sent threatening correspondence by the insurers of vehicles who have been involved in road accidents involving their stock. To clarify, under the Animals Act 1971, you cannot be held liable. Please read the following extract which explains why.
Animals Act 1971:
s8(2) Where damage is caused by animals straying from unfenced land to a highway a person who placed them on the land shall not be regarded as having committed a breach of the duty to take care by reason only of placing them there if:
(a) the land is common land, or is land situated in an area where fencing is not customary, or is a town or village green; and
(b) he had a right to place the animals on that land.
There have been a few instances recently where commoners have been sent threatening correspondence by the insurers of vehicles who have been involved in road accidents involving their stock. To clarify, under the Animals Act 1971, you cannot be held liable. Please read the following extract which explains why.
Animals Act 1971:
s8(2) Where damage is caused by animals straying from unfenced land to a highway a person who placed them on the land shall not be regarded as having committed a breach of the duty to take care by reason only of placing them there if:
(a) the land is common land, or is land situated in an area where fencing is not customary, or is a town or village green; and
(b) he had a right to place the animals on that land.