The Government Respond

My apologies for my tardy response I do have a good excuse as I've started a new job in SWATK country. So I've been away from home and not been able to do this news justice. Well we've got a response from the government and here it is:

"Government guidelines on non-agricultural use of land under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) strike a balance between the need to allow for diversification opportunities with the necessity to abide by the EU rules on eligibility of land under the Scheme.
Much consideration has been given to the positioning of power kiting under category B, which allows the activity to take place for up to 28 days in the calendar year, and we conclude that this is the most appropriate category for this type of activity. Power kiting is analogous to other activities within this category where some preparation of the ground may be required and the parcel is, to some extent, unavailable for agricultural use whilst the activity, and in some cases preparation, is taking place.

However, we will continue to push for greater flexibility concerning non-agricultural activities to be introduced into the EU regulations and will take the opportunity of the forthcoming Common Agricultural Policy health check, when the SPS rules as a whole will be reviewed, to pursue this matter. "

They are doggedly sticking to their party line, which unfortunately is a little predictable. The campaign is not over as Jerry Swift of the BKFA is doing amazing work with the CCPR, who are very willing to help us out. There was a meeting week before last and as a result the message is that we need to get some press coverage. So we are looking for a Farmer or farmers who are prepared to go on the record and speak out for our cause, you know they would love to allow us to use their land, we're a responsible bunch and we don't do any damage. I will also continue dialogue with the NFU. So this book is definitely not closed....thanks again for all of your help....and keep your eye on the blog.....Fly Safe!!

A busy Week

Well it's been a busy week for the campaign, and I've recveived some great offers of help. Also I've been chatting with Jerry from the BKFA about the campaign and the CCPR so I'm looking forward to see how that pans out. Whilst the brain is focussed I've been digging around to see if we are any closer to the simplification of the SPS that Tony Cooper at the RPA said was imminent. The process is definately under way but there isn't any sign that it will have much of an impact on us. But I'm still reading, and there is a lot to read!! I have also written to Tony Cooper again to see if that yields any results. If you want to do your own reading I've added blog feeds for the "Cap Health Check" (a UK pressure group) and "Mariann Fisher-Boel" (European Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development) to this page. It is Mariann who wrote to us telling us that there is nothing in the current framework that prevents the sport being carried out, and who is managing the simplification process. Any news about proposed changes will be posted on these blogs. Still looking forward to meeting some of you next weekend. Keep the faith!!

Other avenues.....

Apologies for not posting sooner, I've spent most of this week fighting viruses. Such creative individuals who create these things :o(. Anyway, thought I should let you know what I've been doing. Obviously I have written back to Phil Hope letting him know what I thought. I have yet to hear from his office. I wrote to the Shadow Secretaries for CMS and DEFRA but no response from them. I guess the Queens speech etc has had them all a bit tied up so we're waiting again. When I catch up I'll start looking for other options to tackle the issue. Apparently the EU are revising the framework regulations to give countries more flexibility. I feel a whole heap of reading coming on!! As far as the amount of kiters on the door of No10 stands, we stand at 990 ohh so close to that 1000 mark so keep it going, it's a great effort!! We've inched into the top 2.5% of most supported petitions. We're getting there!! Thanks to all ...and enjoy the return of the Wind!!

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.

A bit of History

I first became aware of this problem, in 2005, when after months of driving past a field I found out which farmer the field belonged to and got in touch. I have to say all the farmers I spoke to in this was very helpful and friendly. As I told the farmer more about what we wanted to do he was very positive about working with us and then came the BUT.

The new subsidy regulations were coming into force and he didn't want to loose his subsidy. I have some experience with legaleese so set about reading up on the reg's and found that as a sport we fell through a gap in the guidelines. I wrote to the rural payments authority (RPA) with a description of the sport complete with pictures. As the changes were coming in the answer took several months of follow up but finaly got a response. The answer I got back was that we were classified as a "Motorsport". At that point I dropped it, and started looking for another suitable site.

For the last 18 months I have been working with a local aerodrome, who have been extraordinarilly open minded, to allow kites in a corner of their field and we are currently waiting for the right conditions for our first flight (Sywell Kite Club). The issue has been niggling at the back of my mind for almost 2 years and now I've decided to stop burbling into my beer and try to do something about it.........hence this campaign.