The HTA and several growers met with Defra representatives this week to discuss possible solutions for helping the industry in the wake of the ash dieback outbreak.
These efforts reflect work under objective four of the government’s interim Chalara control plan which aims to build resilience in woodland and associated industries.
The meeting follows several HTA meetings and exchanges of correspondence on the implications of Chalara with Defra Ministers, resting with a letter in December from Lord de Mauley, Parliamentary Under Secretary for the Environment, in which government stated that they would not be applying to the EU fund available to support plant health crises in member states and that no compensation would be made to UK growers as a direct result of the Chalara outbreak.
Tim Briercliffe, HTA Director of Business Development, said: “We are deeply disappointed that the government has not applied to the EU fund set up for just this type of situation nor committed to providing UK growers with direct compensation. However, this latest meeting looked at positive ways in which the industry might be financially supported through this crisis by Government and we are optimistic for a positive outcome for growers.”
He adds: “This included looking at future measures to increase the resilience of the horticulture sector, e.g. the use of re-plant grants as a useful mitigating factor for forestry nurseries.
"We have also encouraged Defra to put in place a similar, time-limited, resilience scheme to that implemented in Scotland recently to help nurseries manage the threat from Dothistroma Needle Blight.
"We also made the point that the amenity sector has been equally affected by the Chalara outbreak and it is important that any future proposals are relevant and applicable to the whole industry.”
Briercliffe concludes: “Time is of the essence. The Government Action Plan on Chalara is not set to be published until the end of March. This is too late for growers who need answers and solutions now to help their businesses recover and survive into 2013.
"We have been working closely with Government on this issue since before the outbreak was widely publicised and we will maintain this high level of input to ensure a good outcome for the industry.”
