Originally from: coleen
                        
Hello Paul

In answer to some of the questions you asked Francis here goes.

People from non farming rural areas are buying ex farms and it is correct when Francis writes – they do not want the land. Many farms in the lake district especially hills farms have gone this way and are continuing to do so. Many of these people are also only weekend visitors thus these are second homes to them. So (without wishing to sound sour grapes here) they buy the property but put very little back into the area. Large parts of Cumbria and I suspect other rural areas are ghost villages in Winter. This also has a knock on effect as local people cannot compete in money terms – so local housing is out of their reach. Whilst no one (I am an outsider in the area I live) wishes to stop new blood coming into rural areas it would be nice if they chose to live there and contributed more to that areas way of life. Country life is not for six months of the year – in order to survive it needs people who live and earn their living in it, all year round.

I am a person who happens to think (that yes the land does belong to the stock) just as much as a town or city person would say that their 'garden' belongs to them. Would they like a farmer turning his/her cattle out to graze on their lawn. I somehow think not. If people respected the land more then perhaps farmers would object less.

Some people come to the Countryside and think they have the right to roam where they see fit. Many people abide by the Countrycode. You should note that during fmd when KEEP OUT notices were posted everywhere people on holiday were ignoring it. Just because they wanted to have their holiday they were not bothered that A, they might be harming the animals in that area and B, that they ran the risk of taking fmd back to their area. I saw this time and time again. The Countryside is beautiful and yes come on holiday, but it is not like Blackpool. At the end of each day the sand is cleaned over ready for a new day and the litter is picked and thrown away. It takes weeks and months to repair any damage done in rural areas.

Should dogs be allowed to run free. Well as a owner of dogs – of course they should be able to have freedom and enjoy it. But, not at the risk to livestock or trespass which is what happens in many instances. We have our own land, but we also walk our dogs through fields (never ever when it has stock in them). I would be the first to say we were treated with suspicion when we first move in here. It is down to each person as to whether they choose to want to fit into their villages way of life and respect the other people who live and earn their living there. Like it or not the Countryside is steeped in tradition. I love the Countryside, I am not a lover of all of it's way – but is any City person 100% completely in tune with what happens there.

We do not ask for much, just that what we do have, is not continually eroded away. A Post Office, Local Schools, Village Pub Local Shop, Bus Service, GP, and an understanding of how the Countryside operates. In the grand scheme of things I think this amounts to very little.

Are we selfish. Then if what I writes amounts to yes, then I have no problem with that. All I can say is, when I go into a Town or a City I try and respect that – just as much as I do my own back doorstep. I never drop litter, I do not go trampling across people's gardens etc etc and never hurl abuse at anyone and I always say 'thank you' when purchasing anything. I can and do appreciate the History of any Town and City without wishing to spoil it – or feeling I have a given right to explore were it says 'not open to the public'.

 Do I want to protect where I live, yes I do. Is that so wrong Paul. I am not sure where you live, but do you not have those same feelings about your home and area.

Coleen