Epidemic zone likely to create haulage delays
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• by Miles Brignall
Trucks delivering to farms in the Thirst area of Yorkshire face tough new disinfectant procedures after the government introduced emergency measures to try to contain the latest outbreak of foot and mouth.
AS CM went to press, the government was set to introduce emergency legislation that will require all trucks entering and leaving an exclusion zone to have visited one of four newly appointed cleansing stations.
The move, which will come into force just as harvest gets into full swing, has been introduced to stop the spread of foot and mouth into the Peak District and the agriculturally important pig breeding areas down the East Coast, south of the affected area.
The exclusion zone includes the areas around Thirsk, Northallerton, Knaresborough, Ripon and Melton. Any truck entering the "inner zone will nave to go straight to one of four specially set up centres where the vehicle will be rigorously dis
infected. Once the vehicle has visited the farm it will have to go back to be recleaned—only then will it be allowed to leave the zone. The Department of Environment. Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is sending extra staff into the area, some of whom will ride in the cabs of trucks making deliveries and collections.
Fifteen police cars will be driving around the area to enforce the ban and some trucks may be required to carry stickers in the windows to show that they have been disinfected.
However the timing could not be worse. The harvest is about to begin and those hauling grain away from farms, feed lorries and milk tankers will all see miles added to their journeys.
The special measures are initially being introduced for 30 days, although this may be extended. Trucks driving through the area and not stopping will not be affected.
Roger Wrapson, the Road Haulage Association's milk haulage specialist, says it is unclear why the government has targeted this area in particular. "it's a bit odd that they have suddenly chosen to start doing this now in one particular area. There are other areas still suffering cases but the existing regulations are still in place there," he says.
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