[R]ory Stewart MP has been in touch today with Farming Minister George Eustice to request the urgent release of Defra funding to subsidise the cost of fallen stock disposal, as the devastating impact of Storm Emma on some farms becomes clear. Defra last relaxed the rules on stock disposal in 2013 due to extreme weather and snowfall; with conditions this week described as “the worst in living memory”, the case for Defra support is clear.
Rory has also secured a dedicated caseworker from the ABI (Association of British Insurers) to deal with insurance issues from those in communities in Penrith and The Border who have been affected – either in terms of loss of stock or income, of damage to infrastructure, or other claims with which they may require assistance in brokering insurance pay-outs.
Rory said: “Conditions in parts of Penrith and The Border are, quite simply, some of the worst in living memory. Farmers are suffering a great deal. Not only have they lost stock in lamb – the most critical time for most farmers – but on top of that they are dealing with the costs of disposal, sometimes of hundreds of dead animals.
“The financial and emotional impact of this is unimaginable; they have all my sympathies. However on a practical level I pledge to support any farmer in need in any way I can, in the first instance by pressing Defra very strongly to release hardship funding as they have in the past, and secondly to get a fast-track through my office to the ABI, where a dedicated specialist will assist farmers on a case by case basis if they have any insurance problems.”
This morning Rory visited the Cumbria Police Gold Command Ops room at police headquarters in Penrith where Rory met Chief Constable Michelle Skeer and Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall.
Rory added: “It was a great privilege to spend time today with our emergency services out on Alston Moor, meeting the military teams, and visiting the Gold and Silver Command centres in Penrith, and to be able to thank everyone in person for their tireless work in delivering vital supplies and services to those affected by the heavy snow in the past week. This is a terrible, terrible situation, and I am humbled by the dedication people have shown. The depth of snow, the terrain, and the sparsity of our communities has made this effort doubly difficult – with over 60 teams out with heavy dig, snow blower and plough
machinery.
“I especially wish to thank Cumbria Constabulary, the Fire and Rescue services, the Armed Forces, the County Council and the Highways Team, the NHS, the military and Mountain Rescue, our GPs and our out-of-hours doctors at CHOC and all our hospice staff: all of whom deserve our gratitude and admiration for their massive effort. And the countless volunteers and some outstanding community representatives.
“They have identified the most vulnerable homes and families, providing food, heating, medicine and rescue to those priority cases.
“Coordinating this response has not been easy – and while I realise many are frustrated – I think we all need to remember just how extreme the combination of snow, wind and terrain has been. Road infrastructure has been severely compromised, and people have told me that these are the worst conditions they have witnessed in living memory. A big and heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who has been involved in getting to our communities in the past few days. And I look forward to visiting more of you in the coming days.”
Farming constituents in need of assistance are requested to email Rory at [email protected] or to contact his constituency office on phone by 01768 484114.
