Professional AdviceYou are here : In Your Area » North West » Regional News » Agriculture » Rural Services
Worst weather for years brings out the true spirit of the countryside Douglas Chalmers, Director CLA North has praised rural communities for working together in the adverse weather conditions currently throwing the countryside into chaos. As well as those who make sure their neighbours are safe, businesses that open their doors at all hours, and the mountain rescue volunteers who provide invaluable back-up for the emergency services, Mr Chalmers believes that farmers in particular deserve thanks for their efforts in keeping remote rural areas working. He said: "We have all managed to get through to work, but it has sometimes needed the help of a shovel or tractor. Much has been said in the media of the lack of gritting on rural roads, but let's highlight the good news instead, and recognise the efforts that farmers especially have made to keep roads open and in helping supplies reach their destination. "Yes this weather is causing problems for everyone, but farmers have to turn out no matter how severe conditions may be. They have to access, find, feed and water stock, and supposedly routine jobs are taking far longer. Despite this extra pressure and significant risk to themselves, they still turn out to help – stranded strangers as well as neighbours, and many a desperate motorist will think twice before moaning when he comes across a tractor on the road in future. "A couple of feet of snow can bring a harsh reality to the perception of an idyllic rural life. We have seen drifts that even tractors have struggled to get through – but our farmers persevere and often open a lifeline for those stranded in their houses. So instead of complaining about those who haven't cleared the roads, let's thank those who have. "We have always said that agriculture is the heart of rural communities. Surely these actions demonstrate this." |
Contact Douglas Chalmers
Douglas is from an Aberdeenshire farming family and trained as an animal nutritionist after graduating from the University of Aberdeen. He held technical and management positions in the agricultural supply industry for 20 years prior to joining the CLA in 2001 as North West Regional Director. He is a Governor of Myerscough College and a member of Cumbria Local Access Forum. He was previously Chairman of Cumbria Fells & Dales RDPE Local Action Group and Vice Chairman of the North West Rural Affairs Forum. Douglas and his wife own a small farm near Appleby-in-Westmorland keeping Herdwick sheep and free-range poultry, and where he has helped his wife to form Learning Fields, a Community Interest Company and care farming enterprise offering educational and environmental activities. He is also a member of Eden Time Bank. T: 01748 907070 F: 01748 907075 douglas.chalmers@cla.org.uk Have a problem - need advice? North West Office Aske Stables
Join the CLA today
The CLA Game Fair 2012
CLA Events in your area To receive our regular email newsletter containing advice and the latest news affecting the region - contact the office or send your email address and membership number to info.north@cla.org.uk |
RSS Feeds
- Policy Topics
- Policy Topics
- Site sections
- Specially for members
© 2012 Country Land and Business Association Limited (CLA). All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or stored in any retrieval system of any nature without prior written permission of the copyright holder except as expressly permitted by law.
Disclaimer
No responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action in reliance on or as a result of the material included in or omitted in this website can be or is accepted by the author(s), the CLA or its officers or trustees or employees or any other persons.
The Advisory Services are made available to members on the basis that members' rights to compensation and the liability (if any) of CLA and its officers and/or its staff advisers, are restricted in the following ways. In the event of any advice given by any CLA staff adviser being given negligently or otherwise being incorrect no liability whatsoever is accepted by the CLA or its officers or by its staff advisers concerned
(a) towards any person who is not the current CLA member to whom the advice was directly given,
(b) to any person in the respect of consequential loss or loss of profits, or
(c) to any person for any sum exceeding £50,000 in respect of any one enquiry (whether made or responded to orally or in writing and whether dealt with at one time or over a period of time).
Any person making use of the Advisory Services accepts such restrictions. Members should refer to appropriate professional advisers in private practice before taking any particular course of action potentially or actually involving any substantial amounts of money.
Please note that whilst the advisers are able to advise on a wide range of subjects relating to land ownership, they cannot act in place of a member's own solicitor, accountant, surveyor and tax specialist by, for example, drafting documents or corresponding on their behalf and may be precluded, by the rules of their own professions, from advising one CLA member against another CLA member in the case of conflict.
Solicitors Indemnity Fund . Solicitors in the CLA Legal Team are not covered by the Solicitors Indemnity Fund in relation to professional negligence in relation to any advice given by them.
Please note that from time to time telephone calls maybe recorded for training purposes.