Fallowfield
Member
I never joined tir gofal, because I read the agreement as being for five years, and during those years, fields would become habitat, but I reasoned that when I left the scheme, the fields would still be classified as habitat, and I think you need a derogation to plough up or apply fertliser to habitat land, so once they have you, you have signed the land over for ever. I know that has not happened, but it looks like it has in this instance.
Looked at objectively it doesn't seem unreasonable that if the taxpayer is paying a subsidy for the transitional period when land is being changed from one use to another more environmentally beneficial use, then once the transition period has expired there should be an expectation that the new land use be maintained.
Otherwise the whole thing is pointless and is achieving nothing other than funneling money to farmers.
Which presumably isn't the purpose of the scheme.