A consultation is giving residents, businesses and the farming community a chance to have a say on the new rural estates strategy.
The six-week long consultation will give people a chance to read the proposals and respond using a short online form.
The authority owns 7,400 acres of rural estate – more than it did 10 years ago, unlike many other councils who have sold off, or reduced their farming estate.
This includes 65 farms and 275 acres of woodland and land which boosts biodiversity.
Plans in the strategy will aim to:
- Maintain an estate at the current size and boost support for existing and prospective new farmers.
- Maximising farmland by ensuring it is made up of a mix of sizes
- Make sure that farmland is suitably equipped with the correct buildings for them to be successful
- Support new tenants and existing tenants so long-term, sustainable farms can be run
- Maintain areas of woodland and biodiversity within the estate
- Help as the estate evolves over time
The public are being invited to comment alongside specific engagement taking place with existing tenants, industry stakeholders and the National Farmers Union.
“We’re making our support for farmers clear with this strategy.
“Helping our farmers to succeed is an important part of what we want to achieve with our rural estate over the next decade. It benefits them and it benefits Leicestershire.
“We really do want to hear from as many people as possible, and we’re making a special effort to talk to the farming industry so their views are heard.”
Person:Councillor Harrison Fowler, cabinet member for resources
Both the strategy and consultation form can be found on the county council’s consultations webpage.
An event is being held for people to find out more about the rural strategy on Thursday 29 January, 2-3:30pm at both County Hall in person, and online. Sign up to the event by visiting the consultations webpage.