[01
MAR 01]
WARWICKSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL NEWS
Paths Shut As Disease
Crisis Deepens
It is
now illegal to walk on a footpath or bridleway in Warwickshire as
emergency powers have been used to try and contain foot and mouth disease.
Warwickshire
County Council have this morning been given permission by the Ministry of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to close all public rights of way in the
county.
The
move follows the discovery of a foot and mouth case at Lindley Hall Farm
at Fenny Drayton, near
Nuneaton, yesterday.
The
council has closed all 1,700 miles of footpaths and bridleways and the
Countryside Recreation Team are distributing notices to land owners that
can be put up to inform the public that it is now a criminal offence to
use public right of ways.
Anyone
found using a right of way could be prosecuted.
The
decision follows yesterday's announcement that all 8 countryside
recreation sites managed by the county council have been closed.
Cllr
Eddie Smith, cabinet member (Environment) said:
"We
have reluctantly taken this decision to close the county's footpaths and
bridleways in order to help to contain the spread of foot and mouth
disease.
“We
have been very pleased with the responsible attitude taken by
Warwickshire's residents to keep out of the countryside, but we felt
that we needed to send a clear and simple message that leaves no doubt
in people's minds that they are not to use any of the county's rights of
way network under any circumstance."
"A
case of foot and mouth has now been confirmed in Warwickshire with
further cases just over the county border in Leicestershire and
Northamptonshire.
“Whilst
we do not want to raise undue alarm, people must realise that this is an
incredibly virulent disease that can be spread very easily.
“It
can be carried on shoes, boots, the tyres of cars or bicycles, and on
the hooves of horses and feet of dogs.
“We
all have a responsibility to do our bit to help contain the spread of
disease, and staying out of the countryside is one way that we can
assist the farming industry. I strongly urge the public not to break
this ban."
Free
notices are available from Countryside Recreation, Montague Road, Warwick
on 01926 413427 and from Warwickshire Engineering Coleshill Depot, on
01675 463833, which is close to the infected area in the north of the
county.
Nuneaton
and Bedworth council has reacted to the disease by banning council staff
and vehicles from farms in the borough and closing footpaths.
Cllr
Pat Henry, chair of the Environmental Health Committee said:
"The
council is doing all it can to help reduce the impact of the current
foot and mouth disease outbreak, which is affecting many areas of the
country."
SEE
[01 MAR 01] COVENTRY IN FOOT AND MOUTH
RISK AREA
SEE [01 MAR 01] EMERGENCY
FOOT AND MOUTH CONTACT DETAILS
SEE
[28 FEB 01] FOOT AND MOUTH CASE
FOUND NEAR NUNEATON
SEE
[28 FEB 01] WARWICKSHIRE CLOSES
AMID FOOT AND MOUT FEARS
|
