Disease Report Doesn't Go Far Enough

The outdoor industry's trade body has attacked the recent foot and mouth investigation for failing to address the issue of wholesale closure of the countryside and called for clear propsals to ensure that there is no repeat.

According to Go Outdoors. the Outdoors Industry Association, the Anderson Report 'leaves open the possibility that large parts of the countryside could again be closed to combat any future outbreak of the disease in Britain'.

The organisation's chairman, Andy Airey, says that the report acknowledges that the wholesale closure of rights of way without a clear mechanism to ensure their re-opening was a mistake, but none of the 80 recommendations specifically addresses the issue.

This is despite an assurance from minister Margaret Beckett that the government would not intend to allow the mass closure of footpaths in any future epidemic.

Airey is now asking the government to 'clarify the circumstances in which they may permit paths to be closed together with details of how any closures and subsequent re-openings will be agreed and communicated.'

According to a Mintel report, sales of outdoor clothing and footwear fell by £60 million as a result of the combined impacts of foot and mouth disease and mild weather at the start of the year.

You can see a summary of the main findings of the first major foot and mouth report to be published here on the BBC News site. They include recommendations for mass vaccination in case of a new outbreak.

The second report is summarised here, in contrast to the first it suggests vaccination should be available to be used as an emergency measure, but not as general policy.