Top-up payments totalling £8 million will be paid to growers and other farmers that use common land in the next few dayes following a major legal victory.
Previously, the Rural Payments Agency, the government agency that delivers CAP payments to farmers, denied so-called ‘active commoners’ the ability to claim support for all the farmed area of a common. Proportions of such land were reserved for other commons right holders who were often not farmers.
A challenge was launched against this practice by Minchinhampton and Rodborough commoners in 2014, with the NFU’s Legal Assistance Scheme (LAS) supporting the case throughout.
Speaking on behalf of the Minchinhampton and Rodborough commoners, Peter Gardiner said: “It is really good news that it looks like our claim will be finally settled, though ‘the ink is not yet dry’. The extra money will make a big difference to the management of our commons and we hope it will have a similar effect elsewhere.
“It has been a long and bumpy track since 2005 when this all started and we would never have made it without the support of NFU, the Legal Assistance Scheme and Loxley Solicitors.”
NFU LAS chairman Trevor Foss added: “It is great news that our members are finally going to be paid after a long battle.“
