Almost 50 South Lakes farmers still waiting for payments

Almost 50 South Lakes farmers are still waiting to receive their 2016 Basic Payment Scheme funding, according to figures given to local MP Tim Farron this week.

The statistics, provided by the Farming Minister, show that of the 922 eligible farm businesses in Tim's Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency, 45 have yet to receive their Basic Payment Scheme money.

The payment window opened at the beginning of December. However, last year many local farmers, particularly those farming common land, were left waiting over a year to receive their payments.

Tim said: "I am pleased that many of this year's payments have been made. However, my concern is that it is the same 50 farmers who were left till the bottom of the heap last time who have been left without cash again this year. It is completely wrong and unacceptable for the Rural Payments Agency to leave common land farmers till last.

"Farmers work long hard hours and face a great deal of uncertainty, the least the government could do to support them is pay them the cash they are owed on time. I will continue to put pressure on the government to ensure that all payments, including those related to common land, get paid without delay."