Forum underwhelmed

25 January 2002




Forum underwhelmed

ONLY ten people turned up to an inaugural forum organised to allow the public to have its say over the future of the farmed countryside.

The forum was organised by the Norfolk Arable Land Management Initiative – a pilot project set up by the Countryside Agency.

It brought an exhibition and an interactive display to the village hall at Necton in the first of a series of public forums to be held throughout the project area by Feb 28.

Some of those who did attend blamed apathy and ignorance for the poor turnout.

John Terry, project officer, said he was disappointed by the turnout but contacts had been made and it was planned to make a number of follow-up visits.

Mr Terry said farming had tended to keep the public out of its affairs for the past 30 years and people had lost interest to some degree.

"If farming is to have a future it has got to face the public and what we are trying to do is to encourage people to buy locally produced food and, by doing so, to come face to face with their local farmers," he added. &#42


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