Farron welcomes County Show livestock go-ahead

Local MP, Tim Farron welcomed the news today that the livestock elements of the Westmorland County Show would be going ahead as normal. Mr Farron had been in conversations earlier in the week with senior officials at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, including the Farming Minister Lord Rooker, in an effort to obtain an animal gathering licence for the show.

This was followed yesterday by an announcement from DEFRA that the rules concerning animal movements would be relaxed nationwide, allowing agricultural shows to go ahead as normal. Animals are now allowed to be moved around as normal outside of the surveillance zone surrounding the area of the initial foot and mouth outbreak in Surrey.

Tim Farron said:

"I am delighted that the thousands of people who will visit the Westmorland County Show will now be able to enjoy it in full, livestock and all.

"This will come as a timely boost to the farming industry both locally and nationally."