JOHN SPEAKS ON THE FOOT & MOUTH OUTBREAK

From the very start of the Foot and Mouth crisis, John has been actively working to bring help and advice to our hard-hit Cornish farmers and the Cornish business community.

Despite the restrictions on movement imposed, he has contacted and spoken to very many farmers and businesses, putting them in touch with help and advice to ease their problems and help them deal with the financial pressures building up as the Foot and Mouth outbreak prevents them from normal trading.

Practical help for Farmers

As Leader of Restormel Borough Council he has worked with Council officers to obtain disinfectant supplies for local farmers and agricultural businesses, when other supplies dried up.

He has also ensured that the privately run Newquay Zoo is receiving financial support during the current crisis that has decimated its business and forced it to close to visitors for part of March.

Foot and Mouth Business Summit Meeting

John also hosted a Restormel Foot and Mouth summit meeting in Newquay, bringing together tourism, farming and business representatives, banks, accountants, leaders of local Councils and Council Officers, to discuss ways of working together to overcome the affects of Foot and Mouth on the local economy. Help with Business Rates and advice from the banks and accountancy firms were debated, together with the need for a positive message, to the rest of the Country, that Cornwall is open for business.

Equestrian Businesses

Equestrian businesses have been severely affected by the Foot and Mouth outbreak, the closure of bridleways and the lack of visitors. John is seen here discussing the crisis for stable owners with fellow Restormel Councillor, Janet Burt, and friends, at St Columb Minor.