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Simon

Simon

Joined Jun 2001
1K Posts | 3+
Berkshire, England
PRESS RELEASE

First motor sport events cancelled as campaign grows to overturn new DEFRA regulations

The Motor Sports Association (MSA) has received notification of the first cancellations of motor sport events as a direct result of legislation imposed by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

DEFRA's decision to stop subsidies to farmers who allow part of their land to be used, even temporarily, for any form of motor sport has threatened to destroy more than 40% of 4-wheeled grassroots motor sport in the UK as well as 4,000 off-road motor cycle meetings.

The first events to fall victim to the legislation include sporting trials, autograss racing and 4x4 events that had been due to take place on rural farm land, but there are fears that these are just the tip of the iceberg.

The media campaign to overturn the legislation is gathering momentum and reflects the serious nature of the threat posed by DEFRA's actions.

Auto Express magazine estimates that nearly 50,000 competitors and officials will be directly hit by the new ruling, with as many as 250,000 spectators, families and service crews also affected. "There will be a knock-on effect on garages, local B&Bs and other rural businesses," 4x4 event organiser Chris Tomley told the magazine.

Motorsport News has started its own campaign to save Britain's grassroots motor sport. It urges everyone to sign up to its petition at <http://www.petitiononline.com/som> www.petitiononline.com/som , and quotes trials multi-champion Julian ****: "As we see it, this could be the death of sporting trials. This is devastating news."

Elsewhere in the paper, MSA Chief Executive Colin Hilton has written: "This is a fundamental threat to motor sport and we need everyone to join the campaign. The time for taking it on the chin is over; we now have to fight for our sport." The full text of his article can be found on the MSA website, <http://www.msauk.org> www.msauk.org, in the News section, as can previous press releases.

Editor's notes:
The Single Payment Scheme (SPS) replaces the Common Agricultural Policy and now pays farmers for the land they own, not what they produce. The European Directive on agricultural subsidies does not prohibit motor sports on land eligible for SPS. However, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has taken the decision, without consultation, to stop these payments to UK landowners if agricultural land is used, even temporarily, for motor sport.

Release MSA05-026: 20 April 2005

Issued on behalf of the Motor Sports Association by MPA Media Limited
 
fixed da linky

hi Simon,

I fixed your petition link and signed :)

Hey guys, just because you don't live in the area being affected by this doesn't mean you can't/don't need to sign the petition. As these things happen precedence is set, and the next thing you know, they're rolling the same ball of **** over a new continent. It's happened to the US, it's happening to England, and it will happen elsewhere unless you do what you can to stop it.

thanks,
json
 
I read it, but cannot fathom the "logic" behind it. What is the point to discouraging motor sport on privately owned property ?. What is the motivation behind DEFRAS policy?

I tried to sign but site was unavailable at that time to me.

Sure makes me glad I have access to HUGE riding areas....At this stage.

I hope all you UK riders can turn the tide. Good Luck.
 
4882 here.

The logic? Well if the UK system is like here, it most likely comes down to a govt department flexing it's muscle in an attempt to convince Joe Public that they are "caring" for the environment. There doesn't have to be any sense in it. As a previous petitioner commented, this is "another completely ridiculus piece of government legislation obviously thought up by an ignorant office bod".

Another previous comment worthy of repeat here - "This is another example of a government department forgetting it is a servant of the people and not the other way round!"
 
The Logic,
It appears that British farmers have been encouraged to lend their land for various sporting events( motor and other) in exchange for subsidies(tax credits).In effect, the tax payers of Britain have been paying farmers if they allow certain sporting events to take place on their land.This was, no doubt, an attempt by gov't to encourage farmers to better utilize their land and increase the gross revenue of the farm,hopefully making these farms more financially stable and needing less(more expensive) farm subsidies on their production. Enter the european community,with the SPS (single payment scheme)the main idea is to make the farmers more financially stable by paying them for their land usage in production,thereby, hopefully, making a more secure high quality food supply for the public and releasing the farmer from the worry and uncertainty that farming certainly holds.
Heres the glitch,the gov't does not want to pay the farmers for their land usage and then let them(farmers) gain other revenue on the side, so to speak,on the same land they have already received a payment for.If the land owners have been told by the gov't(and it appears this is the case) that if they hold sporting events on their land for profit ,they will not receive the SPS payment, then unless there is a change of policy by the British Gov't things do indeed look bleak.....any compromise solutions must provide a way for the land owner to profit from motorsport and still receive Govt SPS support,this will no doubt only be possible from pressure from other levels of Govt most likely the tourism lobby....good luck.....nsman
 
nice one nsman

i haven't read in between the small print but my farming buddy says that you have to get your claim in for the next 13 or so years NOW!

given a coupla dirt bike enduros for £600-£1,000 a season i would think two enduros may match the subsidy for the year. but what's killing it is this notion that you're claiming for 13 years NOW!

the farmers don't trust to still want anyone on their land next week let alone 13 years from now! so that's the crux of it i believe!

regards

Taffy
 

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