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Important petition


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Posted

the goverment has decided to stop payments to farmers who use their fields for motorsport events. This includes autocross, autograss, 4x4 and motorcycle off-road meets. Theis petition is to try and get the new rules changed.

petition

Posted

DEFRA THREAT TO MOTOR SPORT

Local motor clubs throughout the UK face a threat

from new government regulations forbidding the use

of agricultural land for motor sport.

Rising rally co-driver Graham Raeburn said: "Lots

of grassroot motoring events throught the UK are

threatened by the latest countryside decree. Some

are events which have run regularly since pre-war

days and are part of motor sport heritage. It's the

biggest single threat we have faced as a sport in

years."

Club officials claim that the new regulations were

passed by Whitehall "without any consulation".

Farmers who currently permit motorcyle or car events

to use otherwise idle land (which has been designated

as 'set aside') will in future be allowed to hold events

such as local carnivals, horse events and pop

concerts, but motor sport will be specifically banned.

This will affect thousands of events for motorcyles,

whose governing body (the Auto Cycle Union) is said

to be "devasted".

For those competing on four wheels, the new

regulations will mainly affect more than 1,000

autograss events which run outside the remit of the

MSA (the UK's main motor sport governing body), but

about 40 per cent of club motor sport events

authorised by the MSA will also face restrictions,

including sporting trials, production car trials, 4x4

events and some rallies.

The new rules from DEFRA came into force by decree

last month, without any obvious consulation with the

hundreds of clubs who organise affected local events.

ends.

Endurance Rally Association

Posted

MSA Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

MSA tackles DEFRA threat to UK motor sport

The Motor Sports Association has vowed to fight all the way to Brussels to safeguard the future of nearly 50 percent of its sanctioned motor sport events after the government decided to stop subsidies to farmers who allow part of their land to be used, even temporarily, for any form of motor sport.

The MSA has joined forces with the governing body of motor cycle racing (ACU) and other affected parties to challenge the Government's decision, channelling its efforts through the Land Access & Recreation Association (LARA) of which the MSA is a founding member and major funder.

The Single Payment Scheme (SPS) replaces the Common Agricultural Policy and now pays farmers for the land they own, not what they produce. The European Directive on agricultural subsidies does not prohibit motor sports on land eligible for SPS. However, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has taken the decision, without consultation, to stop these payments to UK landowners if agricultural land is used, even temporarily, for motor sport.

Activities that will be particularly impacted are autograss, autocross, sporting trials, production car trials, 4x4 events and some rallies.

"We believe the current guidance from DEFRA to landowners is incorrect, is inconsistent with EU policy and fundamentally threatens the future of motor sport in this country. The MSA is a founding member and substantial funder of LARA and it is entirely appropriate that the concerted response of all interested parties to this threat is channelled through LARA. We hope to have a successful conclusion to our urgent dialogue with DEFRA, but should the need arise we are prepared to pursue this issue further," said Colin Hilton, Chief Executive of the Motor Sports Association.

Release MSA05-025: 20 April 2005

Posted

I'm so glad somebody raised this. Please, please, please sign this petition. I own the largest English speaking motorcycle Trials website on the Net and our sport is already seeing events cancelled left, right and centre because of this. There is also a fighting fund at LARA (Land Access And Recreation Association).

This legislation is an ill thought out move by DEFRA, is way in excess of what European law called for and was sneaked in with no consultation. Even the farmers it affects are so confused by it they're just putting a blanket ban on motorsport just in case it jepoardises

Posted

Sorry I was late.

No 4470.

BTW Sci-Steve, I believe the answer  to The Question is 6 x 8. This should save you a load of hassle.

K.

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