DEFRA lifts off-road ban

After a heated campaign by motorsports organisations the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has backed down on its effective ban of motorsports on farm land, securing the future of British off-road sports.

Problems arose when DEFRA introduced a new subsidy system and refused to pay any money to farmers who used land for motorsports at any point during the year.

The scheme meant farmers would loose money if they let events such as Trials, motocross and grasstrack take place on their land and landowners immediately began cancelling events scheduled for the rest of the year.

The Motorcycle Industry Association and motorcycle sports governing body, the ACU, teamed up with the Land Access and Recreational Association (LARA) to launch legal action against DEFRA on May 13th. Within hours the department had u-turned and was offering an olive branch.

The rules have now been re-written and farmers will be allowed to let motorsports events on to their land for as many as 28-days in the 10-month qualifying period, quelling all fears that British off-road sport would die forever.

Click the next page to read the statement issued by DEFRA.

The DEFRA press release stated: “Announcing a revision today to the rules governing the use of agricultural land for motor sports during the 10-month qualifying period under the Single Payment Scheme, Lord Bach, Minister for Sustainable Farming and Food, said:

“DEFRA received a number of representations from motor sport interests following the issue of new guidance on 29 March. Having considered these, I am happy to announce the publication of updated guidance which now provides for motor sports to take place on up to 28 days during farmers’ 10-month eligibility period on land used in support of 2005 Single Payment claims. Guidance for 2006 and beyond will be reviewed in the light of experience of this first year of the Single Payment Scheme. ”