IT is with growing anger that I note that the access restrictions to Holcombe hill have not been lifted as of Sunday, June 10, despite MAFF guidance of May 23 recommending that public access be allowed to all footpaths, bridleways and open land outside a 3km radius of infected premises.

Bury Council have responded in part to the latest guidance by opening the majority of their footpaths but not those over Holcombe. The reason given is to "allow farmers to conclude the lambing season".

Foot and mouth restrictions should not be extended to restrict access to the hills simply because farmers do not want walkers on open land during the lambing season. The MAFF guidance makes it clear that there is no evidence of walkers having transmitted the disease, and that only a very small theoretical risk exists. The guidance makes no exception for the lambing season. The National Trust seems to have negotiated preferential treatment from Bury Council by getting the restrictions to apply longer on its land than on any of the neighbouring areas. The National Trust's position in this matter is particularly hypocritical as its criteria for visitor access recommends that access to holiday cottages, even within 3km of an infected premises, is permissible. Lesser restrictions should not apply simply because of the revenue from renting a holiday cottage.

Bury Council and the National Trust should justify their continued access restrictions and answer the following questions:

1. What legal authority is there for the foot and mouth restrictions to be extended because of the lambing season?

2. What scientific evidence is there to justify such an extension?

They must now provide a firm date when these restrictions will be lifted and an assurance that they will not seek to apply similar restrictions in subsequent lambing seasons?

COLIN GILMOUR,

Windermere Drive, Ramsbottom.