One word...Bogus.....

Sorry, I have had the letter now for a few days now, and been wondering how to proceed.......and also to calm down a little. The letter from the Interim Chief Executive's offer, changes the RPA's position on the rational about our Category B classification, not because we are a motor sport, not because we are likely to cause damage in the pursuit of the activity but because the land is "likely" to require "preparation" that would be inconsistent with normal farming activities. In my head I am screaming "B******T, have you not read your own regulations!!". Preparation of the kind described in the letter, under the regulations would require a change of use permission and at most a planning permission permit. All that is required is that the land be able to be able returned to Agricultural purposes within 14 days. Are they suggesting it take 2 weeks for a group of kiters to pack up and push off because a farmer wants to plough his field!?!?! Are they also suggesting that preparation by a heard of sheep to be against their regulations ......really this is Barrow boy ducking and diving at its worst. This has got to be costing them more than writing our sport in the list and posting it in the next issue. The RPA's approach to this is Bovine in the extreme. None the less ....now I have calmed down....I have replied courteously and professionally to Mr Cooper, directly and not to his MP, contesting this new position so we will see what new position they will adopt next. I last wrote to him in August so on that guide we will wait to hear from him in the New Year. It is becoming increasingly important that we get the numbers up on the campaign, this change of position for the third time proves that we are on the right track and that we shouldn't give up. So get out there and pass the link to the petition to anyone you know with any kind of access to the Internet. Oh and if anyone knows a Lawyer who will do Pro Bono work of this kind, pass on the link to this blog, any and all help will be greatly appreciated. For those of who have pledged evidence letters about the impact of the sport on the land, we may yet need them, so please keep them in mind.

Lost in the Mail......

I thought I'd give them the benefit of the doubt as they had finally said they were going to send me something. I have yet to receive anything from them, despite being told that the letter went in the post on the 15/10. I called up today to try and track it down, they had told me the delay was down to the posties being on strike, and another very helpful lass looked into it for me. Initially I was told that the letter had gone out on the 18/10 but that she would confirm. The helpful lass has since called me back and told me the letter went out on 17/10 but was sent to Phil Hope my MP rather than me. A very strange way of doing business, I would have thought that it was legally incorrect to respond to a correspondent by sending the reply to an unnamed party?!? Anyway they are going to send a copy to my address. I will now have to follow up with Phil Hope's office, to get the letter forwarded. Very Weird..the truth is out there..anyway will keep you posted. Scores on the door is 924 that 1000 sig horizon is getting closer, thanks to all of you who have taken the time and effort to support the cause. Keep talking, and signing....

The pools are clearing.....

We seem to have penetrated the darkness, I spoke to a really helpful lass who after 35 minutes heroically managed to get through to the customer champions but also managed to track down a progress update!! So full marks and much appreciation to her. A response has been drafted and should have been posted yesterday. With a bit of luck and the right wind I should have it this week. Really don't know what to expect but everything is crossed for a positive result. On a down note it, seems that yet another restriction has been placed on powerkiting, at West Wittering, I've placed a link to the SEKA forum where the statement is posted, in the side bar for kiting issues. There is also some further chat about this on other threads. Which increases the pressure even more on the success of campaigns like the this and others, to succeed. I'll post the RPA's response as soon as I get it. I hope the people dealing with it weren't the ones recommending we give up Fresh milk for UHT. Score on the Door has passed 900 thanks to all of you for keeping the faith. Only 97 more and we'll be passed a 1000 which will be 25% of our initial target. Keep signing, posting and talking :o)

Murky pools of bureaucracy...

The government have seen fit to reduce the amount of land a farmer is allowed to set aside next year, because the Grain mountains are now depleted. As I understand it the ability to provide a "set aside" allowance has not been removed from the regulations. So don't think that this campaign has lost its following wind. There are other elements that this campaign impacts. The classifications also impact on land classified as "permanent Pasture" it also has the benefit of getting us "written into" the regulations as a body that should be taken into account for future regulations. I have already ranted about my feelings about our "listening" government on other forums so I won't repeat myself. Rest assured that I am continuing to fight the fight. I am giving our local MP the benefit of the doubt about the fact that he has not responded to my last communication. Firstly as secretary to the cabinet office he was probably planning to fight the election that never was, and now he has to catch up there is a Postal Strike. I guess whilst we wait for the election things will grind even slower, as no one will want to make a decision until they know who will be in power and what the policy will be, so I am preparing for a period of stagnation. So much for a happy and improved society. I am hoping Phil Hope's usually efficient office will catch up in the weeks to come. The lass at the RPA who is following up on the Customer Champions, isn't due back from her Hols until tomorrow. So all I have to say is we're just 5 short of 900 sigs on no10's door, but unfortunately we've slipped back down the rankings, so get onto facebook, get out your address book, poke everyone you can for a sig, there's still a long way to go.

On the shelf.......

I think the rephrasing of the word "parked" is you've been put on the shelf. And so young to!! Well the lass at RPA has gone a well deserved break this week and no one else wants to get involved so I am always deferred to the lass. So no progress on that front. I have decided that the time is coming to up the stakes, before there is an election and everything grinds to a halt and we have to start all over again on the MP front. We have been promised a response from Tony Cooper the Chief Executive of DEFRA, but as yet that was made a while ago, so I am pursuing this week point to see if we can't make some progress. The score one the door of No 10 is 868, we're gradually inching towards the 1000 mark so dig deep in the address books and see if we can't get passed that mark and into the top 200.