EU’s latest diktat to farmers advertises the cost of Brussels’ bureaucracy
SIR – Before any notices announcing EU farm subsidies are erected by landowners (report, October 24), the European Union should be made to balance its books.
Britain’s countryside is already blighted by road traffic signs and others. Many of these are governed by size restrictions that will be exceeded by the larger billboards mooted under the Countryside Stewardship scheme.
David J Harrop
Macclesfield, Cheshire SIR – The EU conveniently forgets that subsidies are a small part of Britain’s levy, the rest being used to finance, among other things, the lifestyle of the Brussels bureaucracy.
It would be more appropriate if there were a billboard outside the EU’s headquarters saying: “We are grateful to Britain and other member states for their continuing financial support.”
George Arthur
Newcastle upon Tyne
SIR – Virtually everyone in Britain receives EU funding in some form through the European Structural and Investment Funds, the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund, among others.
I hope that we are not about to put up boards or posters in our windows in acknowledgement of this fact.
Roger Hull
Blandford Forum, Dorset SIR – As a former councillor, I am only too aware that the erection of a billboard requires planning permission from the local authority.
Where it is adjacent to a road, the highway authority may also object, on the grounds that it may distract a driver.
Brian Porter
Carlisle, Cumbria SIR – Since the British Isles face weather from the Atlantic Ocean, we avoid having billboards in open spaces for reasons of health and safety.
Erecting a large stiff board within sight of passing road traffic would put road users at risk during inclement weather. Any subsequent accidents would reflect badly on the organisation whose name or logo was identified on the board.
Sue Doughty
Twyford, Berkshire SIR – There are simple tactics that farmers can employ.
I would place any board in the centre of my biggest field so that it couldn’t be seen at all. All the cattle would be intrigued.
Ron Kirby
Dorchester, Dorset SIR – I have stumbled across a fading cutting from The Daily Telegraph, dated July 23 2011 and headed “Cameron seeks a new deal with EU”.
Then, as now, David Cameron expressed the need for more time to complete this task, without conceding that such a task is unachievable.
Stanley Eckersley
Pudsey, West Yorkshire