Changes to work of Animal Health
Last updated 08:46, Friday, 04 July 2008
DEFRA is planning major changes to the work carried out at the Animal Health office at Rosehill, Carlisle.
But officials say the service to Cumbrian farmers will not suffer as a result.
From next month, the divisional office in Wavell Drive will become the central operations transaction centre for international trade (exports).
Existing field work in Cumbria will move to Preston but field staff will stay at Carlisle.
Divisional veterinary manager John Kelsey has written to Carlisle MP Eric Martlew explaining the changes.
His letter says: “There will be no effect on the quality of service given by Animal Health to agriculture in Cumbria. If necessary, in the event of a disease emergency, we will still be able to establish and staff a local disease control centre at the Carlisle office making use of the staff available there.”
The plan is for Carlisle to take on export certification work now done at Preston.
It will continue to look after Cumbrian exports.
And it will deal with small animal and selected other exports for Bury St Edmunds Animal Health office, and the support work for all calf exports nationally.
Mr Kelsey’s letter adds: “In the longer term, the intention is for export work to be taken from other Animal Health offices, initially focusing on those where workloads are becoming excessive.”
The premises, known as Hadrian House, have recently been refurbished in readiness for the changes.
Forty-three staff work there. Defra says that figure is unlikely to alter, despite the revised workload.
