Views
Consequences of foot and mouth - for The Inverness Courier
THE foot and mouth outbreak may have taken place in Surrey, but it is having dire consequences here in the Highlands. While the news coverage is focusing on the cause of the outbreak the consequences for farmers and consumers will last long after the story has faded from our TV screens.
Last week's Grantown Show, for example, was enjoyed by a large attendance of local people, but livestock was conspicuous by its absence — a victim of the ban on animal movements. More seriously, the same ban is preventing the annual lamb sales that would normally be taking place at the moment — potentially adding substantial feed costs to already hard-pressed sheep farmers.
At the same time, the European Union's ban on the export of British meet means a highly restricted market for produce from our farmers. It is to be hoped that this will be lifted much more quickly than after the last outbreak in 2001, but every day it remains costs farmers money.
All of this matters because farming is an important part of our local economy — both directly and indirectly through tourism. Whether the outbreak came from the government-funded laboratory or the private institute next door, it is unacceptable that the same extremely strict "bio-security" standards that farmers have to apply to every part of their activities were not followed at these organisations.
The government will have serious questions to answer if it turns out that the costly outbreak came from its facility. If it came from the private company next door, the government must ensure that the firm does not benefit financially from the sale of vaccines. It is farmers and the rural economy that are paying the price for this avoidable outbreak, and it would be truly outrageous if the only organisation to benefit were the one that caused the problem in the first place.
DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION
Inverness needs to do much more to become disabled friendly — that was my clear conclusion after meeting the young people's group at the city's Leonard Cheshire House. Those present and their carers have to battle every day against a huge range of barriers in their daily lives.
Last year, a survey by the disability organisation Capability Scotland gave our city a low rating in terms of disabled access. Organisations like Shopmobility do a very important job in opening up the city centre, but the physical infrastructure has a long way to go.
For a person in a wheelchair, a dropped kerb is essential in order to be able to cross the street. So it is particularly frustrating when the kerb is dropped on one side of the street, but not the other. It is even more frustrating when roadworks block the pavement, but there is no warning sign so a person in a wheelchair may have to backtrack 100 yards or more to find somewhere to cross.
Independent living means that every person should have the opportunity to be able to live their lives as a full citizen without society putting unnecessary barriers in their way. That is the right aspiration — but it is not enough to embody it in political speeches or even in legislation. It is only when attitudes change that real progress will be made.
SUMMER TOUR
The House of Commons summer recess is a welcome break from the joys of commuting every week between London and Inverness. It is fantastic to have a long period of time to spend in the Highlands — not least to get to know the new addition to our family.
Over the next few weeks, I will be holding surgeries in the many smaller communities that it is harder to visit regularly when Parliament is sitting. A list of times and places is advertised in the Courier, and all are welcome. Whether you have a specific problem or issue that you need help with, or simply want to discuss something, I would be delighted to see you.
Posted on: 14/08/2007
