I hope that by the time you read this, most of the Foot and Mouth Emergency Measures will be coming to an end and many of the restrictions about to be lifted, if not already gone

Also, may I say that everyone that I have spoken to in Elstead has expressed feelings of sympathy towards the Pride family and we all wish them well in their recovery from this tragedy. It was really very encouraging to hear so many local people express their support for them and the local farming community generally, and for the measures taken to help protect farm livestock, at the emergency Village Hall Meeting recently

The protection and prevention measures necessarily taken to prevent the spread of the disease have affected a lot of people. Activities ranging from rambling, dog walking and horse riding to refuse collection and military training (on Hankley Common) have all been subjected to restrictions.  Also, the influence of local public opinion played a very large part in persuading the Minister of State to extend the regulations to the closure of footpaths in the Elstead Protection Zone and landowners have voluntarily closed some private land to public access

However, one of the issues that has emerged from this situation is the speed with which developments can take place and the complexity of the regulations that can be applied in the event of such an emergency by DEFRA and the county council.   These factors contributed to a considerable level of uncertainty about what was happening and various misunderstandings of what restrictions were currently in force, and who they applied to, pretty well on a day-to-day basis

The DEFRA website provides the definitive information, but is certainly not the most user-friendly medium: one local livery yard manager seems to have experienced extreme difficulty understanding the regulations. The Waverley website is much easier to use and frequently up-dated with information, as it trickles down.  As the local Elstead councillor, I received updates on a daily basis initially, and endeavoured to post these on noticeboards, and in the newsagent's window and at the village hall, as quickly as possible.  But not everyone who was affected has access to the internet or saw the notices

Local newspapers appear weekly and the village magazine every month, so, with emergencies such as this which happen "out of the blue", it may be that information can be most quickly delivered through local village organisations who can then best decide on how to promulgate whatever they feel their members need to know.  It was helpful for Waverley to write directly to the members of Elstead Riding Club about the restrictions on horse movements and riding in the protection zone, but this was only one such organisation that made its membership details available

Hence, it has been suggested that a contact list is compiled of all village organisations and appropriate establishments that might be informed of arrangements in any future emergency, of whatever nature. It is difficult to know what that emergency might be, in advance, but that is unfortunately the nature of the beast, so the list would need to be as comprehensive as possible.  Information could be passed to contacts or secretaries of appropriate village clubs and societies who could get in touch with their members directly, or provide contact details for the appropriate authority, if the circumstances were relevant to their activities

The quickest method of sending out information is by e-mail and, because it is inexpensive, could also include many other people who might need to know of such matters on an individual basis, e.g., parish councillors, clergymen, medical persons etc.

If you, or your organisation, would like to be included on the list and are prepared to receive and pass on such information if the need should arise again, please let me know at:
brynmorgan@hotmail.co.uk or at The Laurels, Tilford Road, Rushmoor, GU10 2EJ
The data protection regulations require that you actually say that you agree to your contact details being placed on the list and a form will be provided for you to complete.