H&H calls for FMD public inquiry

Horse & Hound magazine has joined forces once again with leading agricultural publication Farmers Weekly to call for a public inquiry into the foot and mouth crisis.

Foot-and-mouth disease has been a disaster for rural Britain – not just for farmers but also for businesses, from farriers to village shops. Pressure to hold a full public inquiry is mounting across the country – but the government has yet to be persuaded.

The closure of rights of way during the crisis put the livelihood of riding schools and livery stables in jeopardy. Many hunting yards are still waiting to discover what the final cost will be to their enterprise should hunting suffer a delayed start.

Add to this the emotional toll on communities, which have seen the terrible consequences of the disease and it is clear that the way in which the crisis was handled deserves to be examined openly, so lessons can be learnt for the future.

To add your voice to countryside organisations ranging from Friends of the Earth to the Countryside Alliance buy this week’s issue (19 July) of Horse & Hound magazine and complete the letter published on page 4.

Horse & Hound magazine plans to collate theletters and deliver them to 10 Downing Street.

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