Foot-and-mouth crisis affects us all

I don't like to write my diary in a negative mood, but it is difficult to ignore the effect of foot-and-mouth on the local area. The first case in the Dales was confirmed yesterday and, as usual, everybody knows somebody who is directly affected.

Even before there was a local case, we saw a reduction in business, initially because bookings to the local guesthouses, from both walkers and agricultural sales representatives, virtually stopped at the onset of the disease, and so we lost associated meals and drinks. We have also lost two darts matches, a dinner for 30, and expect other cancellations.

What is also noticeable is the wide-ranging impact in the area through lost tourism. I have much sympathy for the farmers, those directly affected and having to slaughter their life's work, and those who are unable to get stock to market or to move lambing ewes to warmth and shelter. But it is not only the farmers who are affected. Farm contractors, vets and all farm services are unable to move from farm to farm and have seen their income terminated suddenly.

Local providers of tourism services, whether accommodation, food, drink or petrol, are seeing their turnover drop suddenly at a time when they rely on visitors. Some pubs and restaurants in the Dales rely almost totally on tourism and are dreading the outbreak continuing into Easter.

What is most galling is that we are largely powerless to do anything. It is not something that could have been predicted - we certainly never allowed for foot-and-mouth in our business plan - and we are not willing or able to encourage people into the area.

We have to be in favour of reducing population movements into rural areas despite the impact on our own lives and business. Everybody here is doing all they can to reduce the effects and spread of the virus, and the community spirit is again in evidence, but we are faced with a desperate, long and agonising wait for the problem to end.

But there has been one moment of levity, at least for myself. Last weekend I dashed for the Sunday papers to find out the latest on the virus only to be faced with a front page headline alleging that an elderly actor had smoked an illegal substance. It was nice to see someone had things in perspective.

IAN VIPOND is chef-patron of the New Inn, a free house pub in Hunton on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales

Next diary from Ian Vipond: 26 April