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The NFU today called on the Government to negotiate management agreements with farmers if new legislation on scheduled ancient monuments means that sites can no longer be used for arable production. The Government’s Heritage White Paper, which is published today (Thursday), includes a proposal to withdraw so called ‘class consents’ under which farmers are permitted to continue with established agricultural practices, such as ploughing, on some scheduled ancient monuments. Andrew Clark, head of policy services at the NFU, said: “The last thing farmers want to do is to damage scheduled ancient monuments. Many historic sites are found on farmland and, as the White Paper acknowledges, farming is a key means of protecting these features for future generations. Given the stewardship role many farmers perform, we want agreement to lead conservation of these sites, not compulsion. “Against that background, the NFU is pleased the White Paper suggests that class consents would only be withdrawn on individual sites if a management agreement is first offered. We will be pressing ministers to use voluntary approaches, such as the Environmental Stewardship Scheme, and back this up with financial resources for English Heritage to support such agreements with advice and funding. “The NFU will also be pressing Government to ensure that local authorities who hold heritage records share them with the landowners and farmers concerned. Only through knowledge can farmers protect these sites properly.”
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