Laxton : Working on a rescue package

A rescue package for Laxton is being worked on that could not only safeguard the village and its practices for future generations, but make it a benchmark for sustainable farming nationally, and even globally.

The chairman of trustees at Laxton Visitor Centre, Sir John Starkey, said he welcomed the fact The Crown Estate had acknowledged Laxton’s future lay elsewhere.

Sir John, who has been chairman since the centre opened in 1986, said: “We have been keeping a watching brief with growing concern.

“Concern reached a tipping point last summer when it was confirmed that The Crown Estate had split a farmhouse from the land that was with it.”

The farm, said to be an integral part of the Laxton farming system, was re-let as individual parts rather than as one.

The farmhouse was let individually, as were the outbuildings, and the land went to a larger farm over the parish boundary ­— allowing The Crown Estate to maximise the rental opportunity.

“That triggered the warning that it seemed the Crown did not really know what it had or understood the system that is worked to,” said Sir John.

“It was a fatal flaw that could have dire consequences.”

Working under the authority given to him by the centre trustees, Sir John confirmed The Crown Estate was seeking a new owner and he began drawing up a plan he believes could protect Laxton.

It would involve setting up a not-for-profit charitable organisation to run the estate.

“We must pursue all avenues to save Laxton, but if our alternative is to work, it has to be acceptable to The Crown Estate,” he said.

“The purpose is to relieve The Crown Estate of its responsibilities and rest those responsibilities within the village.

“Only the village, farmers and non-farmers, can keep this going.”

'It is an immense opportunity'

Nationally, farmers receive European Union subsidies and funding in area payments that will stop when Britain leaves the EU, but the UK Government is in the process of determining replacement payments for such matters as ecology.

Sir John said that post-Brexit, Laxton could provide the basis for all future farming.

“It is an immense opportunity and there is scope in the context of the new agricultural policy being considered at this very moment in Whitehall based upon a sustainable farming system,” he said.

“We have that very thing.”

Sir John said adopting the estate would see little change to farming practices in the village.

“It isn’t just about holding on to the past for educational and cultural reasons, but for what it could represent in terms of the future era of farming and for future farmers,” he said.

“It is a very exciting moment. There is a lot to progress in terms of the nuts and bolts, but it could put us in a position of rescuing Laxton from impending collapse if things carry on as they are.

“The pressures on The Crown Estate are too much and Laxton will in no way make the returns that the Crown demands.

“We are in prime position for a contract from the Department of Agriculture to demonstrate exactly what sustainable farming is.

“We have two internationally-acclaimed universities on our doorstep (Nottingham Trent and the University of Nottingham) well placed to partner us should they accept an invitation to join in a wonderful opportunity for the rest of the nation and, indeed, the rest of the world.”

Sir John stressed that nothing could happen without the support of the village and, in order to gauge opinion, a public meeting is being held at Laxton Village Hall from 7pm on Tuesday. It will be followed by a meeting of Laxton and Moorhouse Parish Council.

“The first step is to have the confidence of the village. It is my intention to put an outline of the scheme to the village meeting and to seek their support,” said Sir John.

“I hope to have a fair wind behind me. However, we recognise it is unlikely that we will get something for nothing.”