Foot-and-mouth fear returns to haunt trade

Trade holds its breath following the announcement that foot and mouth has been discovered in the Surrey area

The trade is facing an anxious wait to see if the foot-and-mouth outbreak can be contained in Surrey.

As the MA went to press, two separate incidents of foot and mouth had been discovered around the Pirbright and Guildford area. Rural pubs suffered huge losses during the 2001 outbreak.

British Hospitality Association (BHA) chief executive Bob Cotton advised the Cabinet and Tory leader David Cameron on how to handle the outbreak.

Cotton said: "I have spoken to our members in the area and, to date, trade has not been affected. If the outbreak is contained to the exclusion zone, we will be OK. But if it spreads, then it is a whole different ball game.

"I told the Government they must take swift action. There must be no messages that the countryside is closed."

BHA deputy chief executive Martin Couchman added: "If any pub is affected, there should be a moratorium on tax payments as there is with those affected by the floods."

Federation of Licensed Victuallers chief executive Tony Payne feared that pubs could be hit with a "double whammy" following the floods, if the disease spreads.

"We are concerned because last time a number of licensees were forced out of the trade. Licensees are not legally entitled to rent rebates because there is no damage to the building, and they may well find that they are not covered by their business interruption insurance because the pub can still open."

Sue Keeble, Greene King relief manager at the Duke of Normandy, inside the exclusion zone in Normandy, said: "They have culled cattle in the field opposite us, but trade has remained the same."

Linda Gotto rears cattle, sheep and pigs on a farm attached to her Parrot pub in nearby Dorking in Surrey.

She said: "We have cancelled a spit-roast party and changed the food at a wedding because we cannot move any animals for slaughter. At the moment it is a mild inconvenience, but it could be a real disaster if it spreads."

The Food Standards Agency said there were no safety implications for the human food chain.