Sunday, 3 April 2005

Yet another threat to motorsport?

Please read the two latest posts on my Rights of Way News website at http://www.wheelspin.org.uk/rownews/index.htm. I'm afraid that the situation is as bleak as it looks and could be a major threat to our continued use of farmland for classic trials and PCTs unless we can make it worthwhile for the farmer and that, of course, means more money.
 
Andrew
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13 comments:

  1. alastairqueen1 MSN3 April 2005 at 15:10

    Is the sport as a whole going to have to consider the PURCHASE of suitable land  in order to continue?   (I know this has been done in the past, for various reasons, by the MCC)     thoughts?

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  2. oakcottage47 MSN11 April 2005 at 18:38

    Hello.   Have you seen this?   Regards Stephen.

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  3. oakcottage47 MSN11 April 2005 at 18:43

    Hello again.   Don't know where the attachment went or if this chatroom supports them so here is the text. Bureaucracy looming?   THE NATIONAL Jumblers' Federation, by their very nature, keep an eye on rules, regulations and bureaucratic meddlings that may possibly concern the future of autojumbles, other such gatherings and motor transport matters in general, particularly within the vintage and classic field.   In their latest issue they print a list of proposed measures that have been raised and temporarily put on the back burner pending the result of a General Election. These are as follows.   1 A proposal to prevent people working on their own vehicles. An work to be carried out by an approved garage. This would kill restorations stone dead and close a lot of clubs. Also, how many modern garages would be prepared to work on classic machinery?   2 Only vehicle manufacturers through their agents and dealerships to sell spares. An instant end to autojumbles Where would we find classic spares?   3 Every vehicle to be subject to a possession tax each year, regardless of age or condition ‑ even a box of bits.   4 Cradle‑to‑grave taxation on all vehicles, again regardless of condition.   5 The Kent Act to be extended across the whole of England and Wales, a disaster for stall‑holding events. At the moment a free licence can be obtained from Kent County Council and there are few Trading Standards officers to police it. If the present Government is re-elected then county councils will be ordered to appoint all the jobsworths they need to enforce the Act and to recoup the costs, which equates to a hefty licence fee.   6 Local authorities will be given greater powers to seize vehicles parked on private land.   7 The use of vehicles over a certain age, maybe only 15 or 20 years, will be severely restricted. Owners will have to submit to their local authority details of their intended trip and submit a route for approval. Local authorities will, of course, have to charge a fee for this.   8 Vehicles over a certain age, not considered to be historic (by whom?) to be compulsorily scrapped.   9 All vehicles, regardless of age, to be fitted with catalytic converters.

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  4. andrew brown MSN11 April 2005 at 19:13

    The two latest posts were made 10 days too late.   Andrew

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  5. andrew brown MSN20 April 2005 at 14:09

    Read the hot-off-the-press MSA Press Release here: http://www.wheelspin.org.uk/rownews/2005/04/msa-tackles-defra-threat.html Andrew

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  6. andrew brown MSN26 April 2005 at 14:25

    There is an important new press release from the MSA which all clubs should act on ASAP. Start here - http://www.rightsofway.info/ - noting that my Rights-Of-Way News website now has it's own web address.   Could everyone please make sure that this is brought to the attention of your club officials as soon as possible. Thanks.   Andrew

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  7. simon woodall MSN28 April 2005 at 05:50

    First motor sport events cancelled as campaign grows to overturn new DEFRA regulations MOTOR SPORTS ASSOCIATION PRESS RELEASE First motor sport events cancelled as campaign grows to overturn new DEFRA regulations The Motor Sports Association (MSA) has received notification of the first cancellations of motor sport events as a direct result of legislation imposed by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). DEFRA's decision to stop subsidies to farmers who allow part of their land to be used, even temporarily, for any form of motor sport has threatened to destroy more than 40% of 4-wheeled grassroots motor sport in the UK as well as 4,000 off-road motor cycle meetings. The first events to fall victim to the legislation include sporting trials, autograss racing and 4x4 events that had been due to take place on rural farm land, but there are fears that these are just the tip of the iceberg. The media campaign to overturn the legislation is gathering momentum and reflects the serious nature of the threat posed by DEFRA's actions. Auto Express magazine estimates that nearly 50,000 competitors and officials will be directly hit by the new ruling, with as many as 250,000 spectators, families and service crews also affected. "There will be a knock-on effect on garages, local B&Bs and other rural businesses," 4x4 event organiser Chris Tomley told the magazine. Motorsport News has started its own campaign to save Britain's grassroots motor sport. It urges everyone to sign up to its petition at www.petitiononline.com/som, and quotes trials multi-champion Julian Fack: "As we see it, this could be the death of sporting trials. This is devastating news." Elsewhere in the paper, MSA Chief Executive Colin Hilton has written: "This is a fundamental threat to motor sport and we need everyone to join the campaign. The time for taking it on the chin is over; we now have to fight for our sport." The full text of his article can be found on the MSA website, www.msauk.org, in the News section, as can previous press releases. Editor's notes:
    The Single Payment Scheme (SPS) replaces the Common Agricultural Policy and now pays farmers for the land they own, not what th

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  8. simon woodall MSN28 April 2005 at 06:08

    There was a nice piece in the Telegraph on Monday.
    Have a look at:    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2005/04/25/do2504.xml

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  9. doug sarney MSN28 April 2005 at 13:25

    The last sentence in the Telegraph, for me, sums up the inequality of it
    all:

    "But the bikers and off-roaders who lawfully and enthusiastically pursue the
    sports they have enjoyed for years are as much a part of the countryside as
    the clay pigeon shooter, the car-boot browser and the three-day eventer."

    I've signed the petition - over 1000 others have done likewise but let's
    hope it reaches 50 times that number. Then someone might listen.

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  10. simon woodall MSN12 May 2005 at 05:36

    There was a good summary of the situation on BBC Radio 4's "You and Yours" yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon.   Recording was based around a 4x4 trial, but the interveiwee got over the salient ppoints about land management and the financial input to the area.    Worth a listen.    It can still be heard on the Radio 4 website.    "Our" bit starts at about Minute 44 if you want to go "fast forwards". 

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  11. andrew brown MSN13 May 2005 at 15:11

    WE'VE WON!!   See my latest post at http://www.wheelspin.org.uk/rownews/2005/05/defrasps-weve-won.html   Andrew

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  12. peter mountain MSN15 May 2005 at 19:47

    Great news Andrew - Congratulations on such a quick reversal of policy by HMG.

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  13. mark rosten-edwards MSN16 May 2005 at 09:45

    As posts go on Friday 13th @ 5pm that is a good one Andrew!!   Mark

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