Plastic farmer responds

Having been so unfairly described as a plastic farmer, I believe a number of misrepresentations were made in the article that need clarifying, not least who I am.
The suggestion that I claimed credit for input into the council's voluntary code of practice for the use of Polytunnels is untrue.

I, along with HWVAS chairman Mr Morgan and many others made representations to the council putting forward arguments both for and against. Likewise the inference that I have benefited in some way is also disingenuous. The planning law remains unclear and operates no differently in an AONB; we have always worked closely with the local authority and will continue to do so. Should the law change we would of course comply accordingly, as any other responsible business would.

In response to the tourism comment, it should be recognised that we have both vibrant agricultural and tourism industries in Herefordshire. Tourism numbers in our locality are increasing annually. This has been demonstrated by English Heritage's wish to expand and re-develop their facilities at Goodrich Castle to cater for the ever increasing numbers of visitors, as was reported in last weeks Ross Gazette.

Unfortunately the ungenerous remarks made by the HWVAS chairman do nothing to enhance the debate in what is clearly an emotive subject. We as a family have farmed at Homme Farm for the past 50 years, endeavouring to meet the requirements of our customers whilst remaining sympathetic to the needs of our neighbours and the surrounding countryside. The introduction of any new technique including polytunnels takes time to develop and be refined. Readers may be interested to know that at Homme Farm in 2005 we covered 40% less land with polytunnels than in 2004. Unfortunately not everyone wished to acknowledge that fact at last weeks meeting.

We fully understand the issues, however lets try and work them through together, to maintain a vibrant and sustainable countryside to the benefit of all.

Eric Drummond, Homme Farm, Hom Green.