Countryside March postponed
26 February 2001
Countryside March postponed
By FWi staff
THE Countryside March, expected to attract over 300,000 people to London, has been postponed because of fears it could spread foot-and-mouth disease.
The event was scheduled for 18 March. But organisers the Countryside Alliance said it will now not take place until the beginning of May at the earliest.
A spokeswoman said: “It will all depend on the extent of the outbreak.”
The decision was made after consultation with farmers who were concerned at the impact of thousands of people form rural areas coming together at once.
Foot-and-mouth disease is highly contagious and can be spread to farm animals after being carried on clothing as well as vehicles.
The spokeswoman said it was too early to say how much the postponement will cost the alliance.
“Quite a lot of the payments have not been made yet and we are hoping people will look kindly on us. And it has only been postponed,” she said.
Richard Burge, Countryside Alliance chief executive said, “Our prime concern in taking this decision has been to act properly and responsibly.”
He added: “Therefore, as a precautionary move and in solidarity with the farming community, we have with regret decided to postpone our march.”
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