© Devon County Council, 2002.
(submitted August - October 2001)
I found the Foot and Mouth an invisible enemy worse than the war in 1939. I was fortunate as most of the vets who came to visit my small flock of sheep were clean, coming from Exeter in the mornings, but fears were very much to the fore when they came later in the day from Highampton or Hatherleigh. I often woke up in the night crying. At one time I could see eight fires burning. Luckily the Foot and Mouth passed me by and my animals were saved.
Mrs Watson, Beaworthy
The village was surrounded by outbreaks of the Foot and Mouth Disease and is also situated on the edge of the Ash Moor Burial Site with the access being at the lower end of the village.
At no time was the Parish Council consulted or informed by MAFF or any other agency (with the exception of one letter from Devon County Council) regarding any matters appertaining to this crisis.
The Parish Council, therefore, was unable to address the concerns and anxieties of worried parishioners. The workload on officials of the Parish Council has been tremendous as they unsuccessfully sought answers to parishioners' concerns. Due to many changes of personnel at MAFF/DEFRA there has been no continuity.
Meeth Parish Council
Financially: Income stopped as unable to sell stock. When able to sell, animals not at best - so lower sale value, lower price and extra costs. No provision by Government to replace income or support farmers at all.
Emotionally: Myself, my husband and 2 children frequently in tears, constantly tired, frequently unable to see any form of light at end of tunnel. Support given by friends, family and local people kept us going.
Socially: All social activities stopped: pub skittles, bingos, YFC meetings etc. Did not see anyone outside farm. Family worried about visiting.
Ms Boundy, Tiverton
I am not a farmer or a landowner but the Foot and Mouth outbreak here in Devon affected my family and me more than most.
How many farmers had less than 24 hours to vacate their homes; possibly never to return? How many landowners gave their children an hour to pack one small cardboard box of toys before being forced to leave their homes like World War II refugees?
The hell that my wife, children and I had to endure can only be imagined. The misery was down solely to the arrogance, rudeness, thoughtlessness and sheer bullying of one organisation - MAFF.
On the evening of 5th April a representative of the MOD phoned me and asked if I would be available the following morning to speak to regarding some roadworks on the lane that runs outside our house. This, needless to say, seemed strange so I contacted some of my neighbours who joined my wife and me at our house the following day.
As we sat in our sitting room we were told that: MAFF and the MOD were to tarmac 'our private' lane for a distance of approximately 600 metres, from right through a field gate to an area of 100 acres which was culm grass, tarmac the huge portion of that 100 acres, dig 18 burial pits each the size of a football pitch, slaughter animals on site and then bury up to 400,000 animals there. These animals would be transported to the Ash Moor burial site in upwards of 10,000 lorries, each passing within 6 ft of our front door. The MOD Officer strongly advised us to leave as soon as possible as life would not be "worth living" and that work would start the next morning - less than 24 hours hence.
In a direct line these pits were to be and three are within 200 metres of our house. All this information given to us in such an unexpected manner was met by stunned silence. I am an ex-Metropolitan Police Officer; it takes a lot to upset me. In the room with me was an ex-Army Officer who has spent many years in Northern Ireland, two farmers, a nurse and a couple more of our neighbours - not a group of people to be easily shocked but we were.
The Army Officer (who through the next few weeks of upset and mayhem we were forced to endure was the only honourable person we dealt with) did not know the lane that it was intended to tarmac was private. He organised at our request a Public Meeting the following morning - the 7th - at Petrockstowe Village Hall.
At the meeting attended by many hundreds of people and media I tried to speak on three occasions but burst into tears of sadness, frustration, helplessness and anger each time.
After the meeting I had an appointment at our house with a surveyor. He told me point blank that our 130-year-old lodge house would not stand the vibration of 10,000 lorries and that was always hoping that one did not hit the house. The house would not be habitable again - ever. Once this ill-conceived, panic driven, dangerous experiment was revealed to the general public in all its horror a tide of opposition began.
Meetings started with MAFF and Imerys, the French company that own the local clay works upon which the land covered by Ash Moor stands to try to find an alternative access route that did not necessitate coming past our house. The company sold MAFF the land and if they had also given them access to the clay works in the first place instead of making them try to come down the private lane I would not have had to cuddle my three children nightly as they cried themselves to sleep. Negotiations lasted for over a week during which time my wife and I had to find a house to move to - MAFF didn't - prepare our children to not only move but possibly never to return and to take turns sleeping as the lack of trust we had in MAFF led us strongly to believe they would just steamroller a road past our house in the middle of the night.
At 8 a.m. one morning the week following our first notification of this whole project, my two sons ran into our bedroom crying that there were lorries and workmen outside our house. There were in fact steamrollers, a JCB, a tarmac machine, lorries, vans and lots of people. Before I could stop them, the JCB took the top six inches off the lane. I was told point blank they were there to turn our un-metalled lane into a tarmac road. Our solicitor was quickly on scene and work ceased though calming a distraught 13, 10 and 6 year old took a lot longer.
To now cut a very long, frightening, upsetting story short. MAFF finally gained access to the clay works but at what cost? Financially, who knows? Emotionally, we know. My children had never seen me cry before April 2001. They have now. Lots.
If it were not for the fact that my wife and I love each other so very much and support one another to be good parents, I dread to think how this could have affected my family. Short term: my children didn't eat, sleep, learn, play or do anything 'normally'. I sympathise with every refugee I see on the News now; like them I was living in fear for my family and home.
Long term: I don't know what effect it will have on any of us but like the 'Sword of Damocles' the Ash Moor pit is still hanging over us ready to be used on the whim of politicians.
No one knows what we have been through. To lose your animals must be soul destroying but to have your home ripped out from under you at a moment's notice is mind, body and soul destroying. Many, many farmers, some unknown to me, phoned to give me support and for that we will be eternally grateful. If it were not for our friends - who knows what might have been - or will be.
Mr Tomlinson, Petrockstowe
The Borough is the largest geographical District Council area in Devon and one of the largest Districts in England. It covers an area of almost 116,000 hectares, which is slightly larger than the area contained within the M25 London orbital motorway. However, its population is less than 50,000 people and it is therefore the most sparsely populated area of Southern England.
The first outbreak of the Foot and Mouth Disease in the South West of England was confirmed at Highampton in West Devon on the 24th February 2001. From then until June 17th, when the last outbreak occurred at Bondleigh, West Devon, there have been 72 cases in the Borough involving 34,000 animals and larger number of farms subject to contiguous culls. There have been 96 animal disposal sites in West Devon, nearly all pyre sites.
Mr Incoll, West Devon Borough Council
Being within the 3 kilometre zones of several Foot and Mouth Disease infections, my holding (40 sheep) was inspected nine times by MAFF vets between the 28th March and 22nd May. Neighbouring farms, all within the same zones, with stocks ranging from 250 to 4,500 animals (pigs, cattle and sheep) were not inspected or were only visited much later in that period when they applied for movement licences.
In Easter week there were 10,000 animals heaped in the gateways of fields in Chulmleigh/Meshaw parishes, all blatantly exposed to public view. The trauma of such unnecessary exposure is reflected in the need for the local school to write to the GCSE Examination Boards warning that the concentration and performance of local children has been significantly affected by the management of Foot and Mouth Disease.
Locally, detailed observation of the delayed incineration of infected carcasses and varying wind directions more accurately predicted the occurrences of fresh outbreaks. Local pyres were seen to smoulder, at times barely warming some carcasses on the periphery of the fire. Dark smoke from coal and impregnated timber rose rapidly from the fires but separated from a steamy, fatty white vapour that drifted close to the ground. Local motorists driving through the smoke and vapour found small patches of unburned flesh on bonnets and the tyres of their vehicles.
Dr Pay, Chulmleigh
The initial impact for many young people was disruption to education. This has impacted on those at school, FE Colleges and other specialist colleges. Young people were unable to attend lessons and had to cancel appointments with personal advisers.
There are four areas where Foot and Mouth has impacted upon young people. These are:
Ms Rudge, Connexions Cornwall and Devon Ltd
The impact on the Trust's farming tenants generally has reflected the impact of the disease on the wider farming community within Devon.
We are particularly pleased with the way in which the NFU in Devon conducted itself. It provided good advice, worked with partners and the excellent communication of their bulletins on a regular basis was a help to us all. I regret to say this was in contrast with that received from MAFF (now DEFRA).
In addition to the impact on farming, the Trust was severely affected by closure of its houses and gardens, and countryside car parks. Whilst some houses were able to open in time for Easter, many of our major properties missed out on what is one of the peak periods for visitors. By the end of April visitors were down by 64% on the previous year, and at the end of May 42%.
The Trust is still assessing the total cost of the outbreak on all its properties but our most up to date estimates indicate our loss to be approximately £800,000. If one uses the multiplier in our 'Valuing our Environment' document, the real loss to the economy in Devon is £5.2 million.
Mr Cook, Devon Region, National Trust
Effect of Foot and Mouth on Farm Accommodation Businesses
General pattern: End February to Easter, enquiries stopped, cancellations flooded in. Cash flow dried up, so operators unable to advertise in 2002 brochures, and enhancement of facilities put on hold.
Summer: Farms near coasts, cities or with own web sites had a good July and August. Others had a patchy July, but generally a good August.
Autumn: Very patchy. Some farms getting better bookings than last year. Others are well down. Things are well below normal for many farms and the feeling is that walkers and cyclists are not coming in their normal numbers.
Percentages by which Bed and Breakfast bookings were down in 2001 against same month in 2000 for Dartmoor:
| March
April Easter May | 91% down
81% down 77% down 65% down |
Mr Head, Devon Farms Accommodation
The Estate has been affected in many different ways; emotional, operational and financial. We firmly believe that there are some 'positives' to be taken out of the nightmare of the past few months. From the Estates' point of view, we are working as a team like never before to find new structures and better ways of working. We are committed to crafting a new model for our farm and related businesses, which is relevant to Devon with its unique set of circumstances and opportunities.
The most significant impact on the Estate was in North Devon on the Heanton Estate where all bar one of the Home and tenant farms suffered livestock culls. Lord Clinton's herd of pedigree Red Devon cattle with lineage dating back to 1888 was slaughtered as part of these culls.
As far as one of our farms was concerned it is difficult to think how the process could have been improved. The diagnosis was confirmed late afternoon on Thursday and the animals despatched immediately. The next stage, Friday, the diagnosis was confirmed by a second vet, there being some query as to whether it was Foot and Mouth Disease. The slaughter team had arrived by mid-morning; it consisted of a large team of drovers, slaughter men and an army liaison person. The work was done quickly, efficiently, with respect, and to a high standard of professionalism. In mid-afternoon, when the work had been completed, a MAFF technician, contractor representative and Environment Agency representative arrived to deal with disposal arrangements. They quickly established that burial was not an option. A pyre site, together with access was agreed upon, having particular regard to technical and other sensitive considerations.
Mr Varley, Clinton Devon Estates
Survey of Village Shops in Devon - August 2001
| Shop A | Turnover approximately 10% down between February and August and up to 30% down for a ten-day period over crisis point. |
| Shop B | Turnover between March and July was 20% down and could have been worse had the shop not adapted and organised a delivery service to affected farms. |
| Shop C | Shop turnover is up to 30% down and diverse activities established to exploit tourism have all ceased. |
| Shop D | Turnover down 10% February to July. |
| Shop E | Turnover down 20% for February and March but now approaching pre-Foot and Mouth levels. |
| Shop F | Turnover is down approximately 15% and probably more in real terms. |
| Shop G | Foot and Mouth crisis halted progress resulting in 20%-25% downturn. |
| Shop H | Shop turnover down 20%-25% during peak three weeks of crisis. Now recovered to approximately 5%-10% deficit. |
| Shop I | Shop turnover down 50% and one staff member laid off. |
| Shop J | Reductions of up to 40% in shop turnover. |
Mr Geeves, St Austell, Cornwall
From time to time I am paid by a natural history and environmental survey company to carry out field surveys of invertebrate animal species. The surveys are particularly important in Spring and early Summer for such insects as solitary bees (some nationally rare) which are key habitat indicators.
The Foot and Mouth brought such investigations to a standstill. Not only did I lose useful income, but more importantly, the firm that uses me was hit financially as it lost several important contracts without warning and is now in difficulties. (It employs 5 fulltime and 4 part-time like me).
Mr Haes, Hayle, Cornwall
From the 22nd April to the 4th May we had to suffer the relentless and constant smoke and fumes from the pyre approximately a 1/4 mile away. This affected our health in the short term and who knows about the long term.
The pyre was lit on Sunday, the 22nd April, about 200 yards from the nearest homes. The first that we knew about it was the police informing us to close our doors and windows (this was after the fire had been lit). The whole area was covered with thick black smoke for days and also noxious fumes.
On the 26th April we telephoned our District Councillor. He told us his hands were tied, he was not even allowed near the site of the pyre and that, as we also agreed, MAFF were a law unto themselves and did not have to account for their actions. In the meantime a friend who lives next to the farm in question informed us that lorries were going to the farm with carcasses from other farms in the area. Again the local populace were not informed. All we could do was put up with the fumes day and night. We were kept totally in the dark. We suffered respiratory problems and a feeling of weakness for several days. So did several other people we spoke to. We were also told that the air quality was not being monitored. We also had a large vegetable garden and we could not eat our produce because of the fallout from the fire.
Mr Trainor and Ms Norman, Barnstaple
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© Devon County Council, 2002.