Welsh Moorland Region U-turn

Confusion reigns in Wales regarding the implementation of the BPS.  The Welsh Government has been forced to abandon its plans for a Moorland region based on a 400m altitude criteria.  It is now unclear how regionalisation will proceed, but further delay looks highly likely.

Readers will know that there were to be three regions in Wales.  The Lowland, Severely Disadvantaged Areas (SDA) and Moorland.  But all land categorised as Moorland below 400m in altitude was to fall into the SDA category – getting €200 per Ha rather than the €20 per Ha in the Moorland region.  A group of farmers called ‘Fairness in the Uplands’ launched a judicial review of this decision.  Just before reaching court on the 12^th December, the Welsh Government accepted that the definition of the region was arbitrary and flawed.  The Regulations defining the proposed regions have been quashed.

It is unclear what happens next.  There is certainly not enough money in the budget to pay all Moorland at €200 per Ha.  It may be that payment rates across Wales have to be adjusted.  Alternatively, the Welsh Government may have another try at defining a Moorland region, although the Deputy Minister Rebecca Evans has stated that a Moorland region that is fair to all may not be possible in this reform.  A further consultation with the industry seems likely, followed by discussions with the EU Commission.  In any event, there will be additional delay in getting clarity around the implementation of the BPS in Wales.