Government's handling of foot-and-mouth criticised

Just days after the region survived a major disease scare, the North York Moors National Authority published its heavily critical response to key questions which will be considered at a forthcoming inquiry.

Park bosses claimed their efforts to contain the epidemic were blighted by a major lack of communication between Government officials and those on the ground.

They said the transmission of key information to both farmers and the general public was poor and that public helpline operators "appeared to be sadly lacking in key information."

A report from senior officers at the authority went on: "Prompt and accurate guidance on the issue of footpath opening and closing could have prevented considerable distress.

"Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) data management systems were poor, resulting in difficulties in extracting and communicating relevant data and enabling swift responses to the changing circumstances.

"At a local level, there was a lack of clear and simple information and this probably contributed to the generations of rumours."

The first confirmed case of foot-and-mouth on the North York Moors was at Ashes Farm, Whitby, on April 6. A total of 22 premises in the national park were infected and animals on a further 82 farms were slaughtered.

Early in the outbreak, Defra developed a contingency plan for restricting the culling of sheep flocks on open moorland at the request of the Black Face Sheep Breeders' Association.

But the park authority report added: "Co-operation in other areas was, however, within the context of the national park authority being seen as a junior and inessential partner.

"Given the key role the national park authority was playing in terms of managing rights of way, providing information on access and its role as communicator to a wide range of rural groups, this was disappointing."

Read more about the foot-and-mouth crisis here.

Updated : 16:15, 05/03/2002