Folks

If you are a member of the Countryside Alliance here in the UK, you should be aware of the following.

If you pay by direct debit, they have recently withdrawn a 'one off donation' of £15 from your account.

Apparently, they will have written to you a couple of times to give you the chance of opting out - prior to going ahead and debiting your bank.

I fancy it may have been a bit of an own goal - comments on other forums would indicate a fair proportion of their membership are unhappy with this high-handed action, and will be switching to other organizations providing insurance.

Personally, while lauding their aims, I don't believe in 'implied consent'. If you would like to take money from my bank account, you do so only with my specific authority!



On the CA web-site, they say:

2. Our Rural Manifesto

Within the next week members of the Alliance will receive a letter about the launch of our new Rural Manifesto and how we are planning to fund it. We are asking for this help over the ‘critical’ period up to and beyond the next General Election, which could see real and lasting change in the way governments deal with the countryside.

The Rural Manifesto will be the focus of our campaigning up to the election, and will call on the next government to:

· Repeal the Hunting Act and champion country pursuits
· Support British farmers and producers
· Enable all children to gain a practical understanding of the countryside
· Ensure an accessible and reliable rural transport network
· Promote local solutions to the lack of affordable rural housing

Members and supporters will be asked to support the objectives of the Rural Manifesto by making a one-off voluntary donation, either directly or through direct debit, to ensure that the Alliance can deliver during a period that will be critical to the future of hunting, the countryside, country pursuits and the rural way of life.


Rgds Ian

Worrying.
It suggests that some countryside organisations are still thinking from inside the circle of wagons and others still sniping from the hills.
The current goverment has still maintained the divided and conquered position whilst these two extremes remain.
Its time for a much more joined up approach and the lead does not appear to be coming from the CA.