The Open Spaces Society has called for sweeping changes for agriculture policy post-Brexit to include measures to improve public access to land.

Since his appointment as Environment Secretary, Michael Gove has indicated in interviews that he plans to move away from area-based farm subsidy payments and make farm support conditional on delivery of public goods in post-Brexit Britain. Though nature and countryside groups have put forward their manifestos for agriculture and environment policy in an independent Britain, including most prominently the National Trust, itself a major beneficiary of CAP funds, there has been little indication from government as to what will actually replace the current regime.

On Thursday, Open Spaces Society vice-president Paul Clayden suggested that “Agricultural funds post Brexit should pay for more and better public access.”

Clayden was speaking at the society’s annual general meeting in London. He said, “The government has promised that the current level of agricultural support will be maintained until the next election.  This means that there is an opportunity to change the way the payments are made to deliver better value for public money.  Clearly, public money should procure public goods, such as better paths and more access to land, to be exercised responsibly.”
 
According to its Vice President, the Open Spaces Society wants to achieve “A new deal for public access. This should include payments for the creation of new public paths or to improve existing ones, and for new access to land or the dedication of village greens.”
 
In London, Clayden said, “There should be a clear system for withdrawing grants where the recipient is not obeying the law on public paths. The money which is recouped should be put back into provision of access.
 
“We look forward to working with other organisations who champion public access to lobby parliament to achieve this new deal.”