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By amy

December 19, 2005

The plans follow a significant early response to the charging consultation and extensive feedback from the agricultural sector over the potential costs for irrigation.

Following meetings with farming representatives, SEPA’s Water Framework Directive Programme Manager, Martin Marsden, said that issues requiring further clarification had been identified and believes that a good case exists to modify certain aspects of the charging scheme.

He said, “I understand the farming community’s concerns and can confirm that we have reviewed the proposed charging scheme in light of recent discussions.  We have taken the decision to inform the farming community ‘mid-consultation’ of our intent to modify the proposed irrigation charges and I hope that it alleviates some concerns.  As a consequence, the proposed annual charges for the use of a typical single spray irrigation pump will fall from £2,232 to £446; a charge that will be appreciably lower than those in England and Wales.”

Information on SEPA’s plans to modify the charging scheme, along with comparisons to charges in England, can be found at www.sepa.org.uk/wfd/news.  However, the key facts are:

• SEPA has tried to accommodate the need that farmers have to rotate the areas of production.  Once a farmer has a licence for an irrigation pump SEPA will only charge £94 for the addition of new locations to this licence. 

• From 1 April 2006, where a new irrigation system is installed and where no licence currently exists, SEPA will recover the costs of site specific risk and impact assessments.  The application charge will be £2,944 and the licence does not have to be renewed every year.

• There are significant financial incentives for existing abstractors to apply during the transitional period.  Farmers should apply to SEPA for permission, before 31 March 2006, to abstract for any existing abstractions or for abstractions that are planned over the next year.  This means that they will hold a licence for the new year.

• Apply for an authorisation before the end of December 2005, and the application charge for each abstraction location will be £109.  Apply from 1 January-31 March 2006 and this charge will rise to £134.

• Farmers will not have to apply to SEPA for authorisation of cattle troughs or abstractions for pesticide spraying.

Time is running out to have your say on the water environment charging scheme.  Send your responses to the Scottish Executive before 30 December 2005.

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