Birmingham Friends of the Earth West Midlands Transport Campaign

14 March 2001

Mr J Scudamore

Chief Vet

MAFF

Nobel House

17 Smith Square

London SW1P 3JR

Fax: 020 7238 6591

Dear Mr Scudamore,

We are writing to you in connection with ongoing construction on the route of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road. Last Friday 2nd March we issued a press release asking for work on the route to stop in the light of the current Foot and Mouth crisis. Since then this story has received some local coverage and a number of farmers have asked why work is

continuing during the current outbreak. Indeed on Sunday Bleak House Farm, Staffordshire, was identified as having cases of Foot and Mouth. This is in close proximity to the proposed road. The footpaths in Staffordshire have been closed and a number of organisations have ceased unnecessary work.

In the local press we have not been able to ascertain who is actually responsible for the decision for work to proceed. The Highways Agency has said it is the responsibility of Midland Expressway Limited whom in turn say that it is the role of the Highways Agency. Each in turn have indicated that the other is in contact with MAFF. We have also had a conversation with Paul Tame of the East Midlands NFU who has also been in contact

with both of the above. CAMBBA, the construction consortium, said on local radio

that MAFF have indicated to them that construction work can carry on. We are obviously concerned about the possibility of cross-contamination from the continuation of this building scheme during the present epidemic.

Could you please indicate the position of MAFF with respect to ongoing construction of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road at this time? The road runs for 27 miles through mostly green belt countryside. It affects a number of farms as well as crossing numerous other roads and railwaylines.

We look forward to your early reply.

Yours sincerely,

Karen Leach

Campaigns and Project Worker