Following the outbreak of foot and mouth it soon became apparent that the governments actions in the days and weeks following were going top have a catastrophic effect upon tourism and the rural business economy.

Powys Rural Business Campaign(PRBC) was bourne out of feelings of anger,frustration,and resentment emanating from the local community.Ian Mitchell,a local Chartered Accountant with a practice covering the whole of the county of Powys,very soon realised the impact on businesses from the phone calls he was receiving from clients,and felt moved to try and do something on their behalves.He is in an ideal position to co-ordinate and advise the action group.

Initial meetings were called of those expressing concern,and the first public meeting was held on 26th March.It was attended by some 270 business people together with local M.P.s,A.M.s,Tourist Board and Powys C.C. cief executives, and National Assembly ministers.The group received an overwhelming endorsement of its objectives and quickly realised its responsibilities to others, and how many people were relying upon them.

Further meetings were held in other parts of the county,and these continue on a weekly basis.As a result the number of registered members now stands at approx 450,and the target of 1000 bisiness members will be achieved in the coming weeks.

As a Welsh county we have been frustrated by the requirement to deal with the Welsh National Assembly who have no powers to deal with claims for compensation.Despite lobbying and a meeting with the Assembly's deputy first minister it was apparent that compensation was not on the agenda.We asked for the Assembly's support in pursuing this claim through the Rural Task Force and to Tony Blair,but none has been forthcoming.We have since written to the deputy first minister to say that his response(or lack of it) is totally unacceptable to us and that we will not be deflected on the issue of compensation.

It became obvious that the next step was a national campaign.We set about making contacts with similar groups in other parts of the country and trying to co-ordinate our objectives.We were eventually able to arrnge a meeting of groups from Cumbria,Devon,North Wales,and Pembrokeshire at the NEC on 18th April,and an agreement to form a national alliance was made.In the meantime PRBC felt that the best way forward was to join forces with Action-footandmouth,and is now actively canvassing as many of its members to visit the website and join the campaign with a £10 contribution.

PRBC is now focussing its objectives on presenting a national and cohesive voice for the rural economy,and is seeking immediate aid and compensation for its members.Further meetings to enrol new members are arranged for Brecon(Monday) and Newtown(Friday).On Thursday two of its group,Trish Armstrong and Ian Mitchell are meeting with Michael Meacher of the Rural Task Force at Westminster to present their case.The two local M.P.s will also be in attendance.

We will update this newsletter following the results of this week's meetings.