Unannounced RPA inspection.

Pie face

Member
So for the THIRD TIME in about 4 years I have had the RPA rock up completely unannounced. The last two times I was accommodating and helped show them round etc but the last time took 6 hours of my day and I ended up working till midnight to catch up while the inpector went home at 4pm. This time I was rushing around and was supposed to be going out at lunch time so I was pretty blunt and said no you'll have to come back when I have more time, he said I could leave him to go round on his own but I said no to that. He seemed a bit miffed and said they would be in touch. Am I within my rights not letting basically a stranger wander round on his own when there's no one there or am I in bother for not allowing the inspection to go ahead?
 

Werzle

Member
Location
Midlands
I thought they had to give 24hrs notice and aslong as the inspection had started , it could be revisited in 2-3 days to be finished. I think the thing to do is work with them not against them, they dont want hassle either.
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
I accept they can come anytime they want but on this occasion I simply could not spare the time to accompany the inspector and I don't think its a good idea to give strangers free rien on my farm when I am not there.

There would surely be a health and safety issue with letting anyone walk around unsupervised?

It will be on record that you've been amenable on previous inspections, and if you couldn't just drop everything on the spot on this occasion then it can hardly be held against you I'd have thought. But then it is the RPA we're talking about...…..
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
Well based on my experience and that of others here, as well as advice from an Agent working for me to Appeal an Inspection, it is not really acceptable to allow an Inspector to wander around unaccompanied and monitored. Their interpretation of what they see on the ground can be.... shall we say, somewhat suspect!

H&S is always an excellent argument! In fact, I am surprised that the RPA allow their employees to wander around open farmland on their own. I have had staff working for various companies such as STW and they do not allow solo working.
 

D14

Member
So for the THIRD TIME in about 4 years I have had the RPA rock up completely unannounced. The last two times I was accommodating and helped show them round etc but the last time took 6 hours of my day and I ended up working till midnight to catch up while the inpector went home at 4pm. This time I was rushing around and was supposed to be going out at lunch time so I was pretty blunt and said no you'll have to come back when I have more time, he said I could leave him to go round on his own but I said no to that. He seemed a bit miffed and said they would be in touch. Am I within my rights not letting basically a stranger wander round on his own when there's no one there or am I in bother for not allowing the inspection to go ahead?

I let an inspector walk around a rented block of land because they ran when they were leaving the office but I was at the other end of the country on holiday. Never again though because it caused 18 months of crap because the person could not read a map and walked half of our fields and half of a neighbours and then submitted a report saying the maps were wrong for our holding. Absolute nightmare and we had to get an agent in to sort it out which cost £3000 and we were without any subsidy for 18 months. Had I been with them then this would of not happened because the rap inspection maps were correct but the inspector just could not read them.
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
I let an inspector walk around a rented block of land because they ran when they were leaving the office but I was at the other end of the country on holiday. Never again though because it caused 18 months of crap because the person could not read a map and walked half of our fields and half of a neighbours and then submitted a report saying the maps were wrong for our holding. Absolute nightmare and we had to get an agent in to sort it out which cost £3000 and we were without any subsidy for 18 months. Had I been with them then this would of not happened because the rap inspection maps were correct but the inspector just could not read them.

That just stinks! :mad:

One for an MP I would have thought... if they could be arsed to care!
 

Farma Parma

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Northumberlandia
Landed here the very day i was 280miles away, typical eh.
Returned 2 days later tho & on a whole was very helpfull
The previous one wasnt quite so friendly.
Both inspecting the same thing & all i know is this recent one was 99.9% all fine.
Not a clue how long this might delay a payment thats way overdue & like anyone in the RPA cares
i just hope when scheme ends i can get right out of some of the poor things in this current one, Fallow being one of them
 

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read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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