Meet the CLA South West Team series - Will Langer

Get to know the people behind CLA south west in this series

First published on 22 Feb 2021, and most recently revised on 20 May 2021.

As we have been unable to get out as much as we'd have liked over the past year, and with a couple of staff changes in that time, we wanted to give you the opportunity to get to know the team who works so passionately on your behalf.

First up, Will Langer, Rural Surveyor

Will Langer and his springer puppy.jpg — Will Langer and his springer spaniel puppy during a more wintery walk!

When did you join the CLA?

I joined straight from the Royal Agricultural College in 2015.

Tell us about your standard day working for CLA South West

Nothing is that standard at the moment! During lockdown, it is mostly speaking to members on the phone offering advice, and attending stakeholder meetings virtually. Pre-Covid, much of the same but actually seeing members!

What do you enjoy most about working at the CLA?

It’s a toss-up between getting around the region and meeting new and interesting people, and working with the SW team. We all get on really well and that makes work particularly enjoyable.

What’s a common problem that people in the industry face that you’d love to be able to fix?

I am forever finding the arbitrary interpretation of planning law by individual local authorities extremely frustrating. The number of times I have been presented with an exceptional planning application by a member, only for it to be rejected on the basis of absurd reasoning.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

Mainly training my 4-month-old springer spaniel puppy at the moment. Otherwise, I enjoy shooting, windsurfing and creating truly terrible carpentry projects.