Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, has written to Government calling for urgent action to support farmers affected by the growing Bluetongue outbreak in the Southwest.
Councillor Cottle-Hunkin, who is also a sheep farmer near Great Torrington, is struggling with Bluetongue among her own animals and says many farming businesses are facing significant challenges as the disease spreads.
In her letter to ministers and Southwest MPs, she warns that the response to the outbreak is not keeping pace with the scale of the problem.
She is calling for faster and simpler testing, clearer reporting of the number of affected farms, better communication with farmers about local cases, and sufficient vaccine supplies to meet demand. She has also asked Government to provide financial support for affected farmers and to develop a long-term strategy for managing livestock diseases such as Bluetongue.
Councillor Cottle-Hunkin
Devon Bluetongue Cases Prompt Call for Urgent Government Action