Food for Thought

Post by Debbie Beaton:

WAVERLEY Borough Council’s response to the foot and mouth outbreak in Surrey has been quick if my experience in Elstead this weekend is anything to judge by. I was there to celebrate my father’s 80th birthday at Elstead Mill with a large gathering from the village, which has a population of just under 6,000 including the village surrounds

A visit to the Spa shop on Saturday (August 4), which is central to Elstead and situated alongside the central green, had two doubled sided A4 pages on the Foot and Mouth situation compiled by Waverley Borough Council.

The information gave a clear picture on the current situation, describing the reasoning, actions and location of the Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone. Then a Q and A tailored to Elstead residents followed. One of the questions posed was: “I’ve heard there is an outbreak at Elstead. Is this true?” The information sheet affirmed that the herd from the holding near Guildford originally came from Elstead, but that the original herd – although not infected – would be culled.”

It went on to tackle issues relevant to Elstead residents, such as dog walking, footpath access and the Cranleigh Show which went ahead but all the livestock classes were cancelled. The information sheet directed the local community to DEFRA for the most up to date information

Many of the guests at my father’s party live locally. Only a few guests knew that Elstead was at the centre of the foot and mouth outbreak, because this was where the original stock came from and that it was the Pride’s business. The response to the news was genuine shock and disbelief that it could be the Pride's livestock. Not least because many are regular customers of the Prides farm shop in Elstead.