Call to extend aid package as snow takes toll on more farm buildings

The Scottish Government is facing demands to extend an emergency aid scheme to help farmers who had scores more buildings collapse in last week's heavy snowfalls.

Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead put up £3million in assistance last month but said the cash could be applied only for buildings that suffered damage between December 28 and January 31.

NFU Scotland, however, said over the weekend it would be asking to have the qualification period moved in the wake of more structural damage caused by snow on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the north-east, Perthshire, central and the west of Scotland.

NFU communications director Bob Carruth said union staff would be gathering information in the coming days on how many more buildings had suffered in the latest spell of wintry weather.

“We hope the Scottish Government will consider adjusting the eligibility criteria so that those most recently affected could qualify, if necessary," he said.

North-east NFU regional board chairman Tom Johnston said he understood more farm buildings were damaged last week in Aberdeenshire and Banffshire – among the areas worst hit by January’s snowfalls.

Mr Johnston said: “There was up to 26 inches of snow in many areas in Deeside and upper Banffshire last week. I heard of farmers going on to roofs to clear the snow. The snow has never really cleared from many of our upland and hill areas. They should be receiving the same aid as everyone else if buildings have gone down since January 31. It’s an ongoing process.”

January's snowfall is thought to have resulted in more than 3,000 agricultural buildings suffering damage, either through roofs caving, the structure buckling or the building collapsing entirely in Grampian, the Highlands and the Borders.

The total bill has not yet been revealed but is thought likely to run to tens of millions of pounds. One loss adjuster is known to be assessing claims that could involve a £25million payout.

The union's plea came as the government sent out the full qualification criteria for its emergency scheme over the weekend.

It is making up to £6,000 available to each of the farming businesses that have suffered damage to buildings.

The scheme is far from popular. Several have queried why the taxpayer is being left to foot the bill for consequential damage that should have been insured against.

One farmer said it was with disbelief that he learned of a scheme for farmers who had not insured their property against weather damage.

He said the cash would be better spent supporting agricultural training or creating a modern apprenticeship scheme to encourage young people into a farming career.

The government aid is being targeted at financing alternative housing for livestock that have been displaced or to provide lambing and calving accommodation.

Mr Lochhead is justifying the cash on animal health-and-welfare grounds. None of the money being put up is available for the repair or rebuilding of buildings that have been damaged.

Farmers applying for the cash will have to have their damaged buildings inspected by staff from the government's rural payments and inspections directorate.

The government has warned it will scale back claims if the total bills submitted exceed £3million.

Full details of the scheme are available at www. scotland.gov.uk/Topics/ farmingrural/Agriculture/ grants/Schemes/ SevereWeatherGrant