[Creagan]

Does anybody know if there are specifications for the standards that fences must be built to to be eligible for a grant? E.g. stobs/m, distance between strainers, wire gauge, etc?

[oor wullie]

I'm not sure but would guess that as long as it is fit for purpose it would be OK.

I heard of someone who was turned down when they applied for a fencing grant as said it would all be post and rail fencing.  I presume that the CC turned them down as they though 1) it is probably for horses and the grants are there to support agriculture not horses and 2) for stock, a wire fence would be cheaper and do a better job so it would be a bad use of funds to award the grant.

[Garmoran]

I would check with the grant awarding body. There certainly used to be very precise requirements and I can remember my father cursing because the grant inspector wanted a third wire adding half way up a fence. That will have been over 30 years ago, though...

[Creagan]

My local RPID office were very helpful and have given me a copy of the required standards. A few surprises in there, strainers can be quite weedy, it seems, but other than upping te size of those it's a good guide to go with.

[Creagan]

Update: Have got one quote from my local guy, any of the Sgianachs on here recommend a fencer? PM if you know of anyone

Cheers

[Creagan]

Another update.
I missed the deadline for the end of the CAGS scheme so now have to wait until the new grant system is in place. So for yet another year my croft remains unfenced and unused. Boo!
Hope to get it sorted in the spring.

[Hamish Crofter]

When does the new system kick in,do you know. I'm off to one of the roadshow presentations on the 24th, regarding the new payments, crags ect,not sure if anyone has been to one yet and if so was it useful.

[Rosemary]

We had RPID at the Smallholders Conference on Basic Payments and SRDP. Still a bit vague I fear on the SRDP - Basic Scheme seems to be fairly complete.

There's now an household income means test for the Small Farm Grant Scheme.

[oor wullie]

I may have misheard but I think the government man at the smallholders conference mentioned that it might be September before all the schemes were signed off and ready to go.
I hope they get things moving faster as that is quite a long gap with nothing available.