Munzy Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Right, I know it's a dramatic title but I desperately need your help, all of you who live in the countryside or spend time there shooting, hitting clays or walking your dogs could be affected by this issue. My family own a farm up on the outskirts of Liverpool and for generations have been farming spuds and now more recently wheat. Times are tough, as they are with all aspects of farming, and the family has struggled on because of a feeling of duty to the generations of the family who have passed and those to come. Farmers don't retire, they inherit a legacy and their dying wish is to see the farm passed onto the next of kin. The land around the house has been the playground of kids for decades and with each generation the land has grown in importance and beauty. Sadly, that is all about to change because of pressure from big-business. My family was approached and asked to sell some of their land to make way for a large building project. When they initially resisted, as we might all do initially, the dirty tactics came out. Money wasn't the objective for my family and instead they just wanted to keep the house that had been in the family for generations, the land that they had farmed for many many years and the woods, streams and barns they had all played in as kids. This is a shooting forum so I might as well touch on this... big shooters up there, they shoot the land as a tight group of friends and family. My father-in-law gives permission to local lads for pest control and employs lads and ladies for various tasks throughout the farming year. Cut to the chase... The land, which has for years been recognised as prime Grade 1 land and farmed for wheat for the last few years has mysteriously been regraded overnight as 3B. For anyone not in agriculture (myself included) this may not mean much. Essentially, Grade 1 land is capable of growing the best yield and quality of crop. Grade 3B, a lot less / worse. BUT... crucially the right to build on land becomes far more easy as land drops from Grade 1 to 2 and then onto 3A and 3B etc. So, big business (who in this case wants to build a massive logistics and transportation depot oop-norf) has twisted some arms and greased some palms to get this prime agricultural land regraded so they can build on it. I need your help, my whole family does, and maybe yours too! We have just won a battle to ensure that not only local residents can sign a petition about this matter. This is a national issue because this sort of thing will go from small community to small community and if we cant get together to protest the long term impact then we are all doomed. Anyway, enough from me, please just sign the following petition to stop this Goliath swallowing up a local community and moving onto the next... http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-peel-holdings-plan-as17-petition-to-speak-at-full-council-meeting.html Thanks for reading! Dom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 (edited) Signed 866 Edited October 25, 2014 by PhilR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boromir Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Signed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 I don't see what the problem is. Either it is grade1 land and it cannot be built on or it is not. The quality of the land does not change. Just look up old Ministry of Agriculture maps with land classification on it and the true nature of the land will be shown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin lad Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 done colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Mine was no 870 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 I know of some very good farmland about 10 mile from where I live that has been down graded in a similar fashion to make way for housing! The joke is its flood plain too.... Signed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spanj Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 signed. Its not like there isnt enough derelict land left behind by various logistics companies is it !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxfordfowler Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Signed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 #874 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biddy Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smig4373 Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 signed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartynGT4 Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 signed and good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munzy Posted October 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 I don't see what the problem is. Either it is grade1 land and it cannot be built on or it is not. The quality of the land does not change. Just look up old Ministry of Agriculture maps with land classification on it and the true nature of the land will be shown. As it transpires the classification of land is not as straightforward as you might think. Just as in a court case the prosecution might call an expert witness who says white is black, the defence might call one who says black is black. Unfortunately nothing has changed in this farmland other than the fact a lot of money is at stake which has influenced the powers that be to degrade the land from one extreme to the other. Caught in the middle is my family and their land and livelihood. Thanks to all those that have signed. I just showed my mother-in-law and she burst into tears. Bless you all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philm Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Signed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegingeritalian Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Signed Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/north-wales-family-takes-advice-2776604 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Signed No 884. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brett1985 Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Signed, number 886, good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 +another1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 I don't see what the problem is. Either it is grade1 land and it cannot be built on or it is not. The quality of the land does not change. Just look up old Ministry of Agriculture maps with land classification on it and the true nature of the land will be shown. Ah....if only it were that simple...if I've learned anything in the last 37 years of construction and development it is that if you have enough money the law can be re-written. Old MAFF maps are far from reliable and much land has been re classified under the ALC in recent years. However generally agricultural land can only be reclassified on request of the owner in consultation with the MAFF consultative committee...its not a Planning issue. Grade 3 Land is still good quality agricultural land and unless the owner sells out is quite safe from development.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drut Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 889 Hope it helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul taylor Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 Done no 888 Been working in this very area this week and saw some lovely farm land whilst tootling around in my van so wish you and your family all the best. I see ASDA has already built a wacking great distribution centre on what looked like farm land too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onatangent Posted October 25, 2014 Report Share Posted October 25, 2014 890, good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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