Countryside Stewardship Scheme: Cornwall

Dan Rogerson
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence has been obtained by Natural England to form a basis for ending the 10 year Countryside Stewardship agreement with Eastmoor Commoners Ltd (Cornwall); and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Shaw
[holding answer 17 January 2008]: Regular livestock counts on Eastmoor Common demonstrated that the stocking levels were consistently and significantly higher than the agreed levels set in their Countryside Stewardship Agreement, leading to overgrazing of the Common and the loss of any environment gains planned in the Countryside Stewardship Agreement. Eastmoor Commoners Ltd. was given guidance and advised that this would lead to ending their Countryside Stewardship Agreement, but the situation did not improve and the agreement was terminated.