Dear Editor,

Much has been written and said regarding the sale of Herefordshire’s Estate. In my capacity as a free range stockman and HCA I would like to bring some objectivity and balance to the debate. I have worked on a number of Council Farms over the last 40 years. It hasn’t been a pleasant experience.

‘Tidy Farm Tidy Stock’ is a good yard stick. Often the opposite is the case. Poor practice and negligence has reared its ugly head on many occasions. Providing a utopian lifestyle to a privileged few in the guise of ‘feeding the people’ isn’t appropriate, particularly when its at the expense of the weak and elderly.

The sale of the Estate would realise desperately needed investment in Social Care and improved facilities. Working day to day in hospitals and care homes it becomes very clear prudent investment would make a huge difference. The vulnerable in our society are going without, while subsidised inefficient intransigence continues in the farm yard.

The images beamed at us by Henson and Humble et al are a far cry from the experiences of low profile working class people such as myself.

Greg Clifford,

Weston under Penyard