Farmers who are ploughing money into carbon reduction will have to shelve those financial commitments if the government presses ahead with the inheritance tax, Cheshire East Council was told.

Richard Yarwood, whose family has farmed in Brereton for 100 years, was speaking at yesterday's (Thursday) meeting of the environment and communities committee about the council's carbon action plan for the borough.

He told councillors his farm manages about 5,000 tons of soil carbon and produces milk at a low carbon footprint.

"All this is jeopardised by the changes to inheritance tax proposed," said Mr Yarwood.

"I implore you to support the notice of motion for Cheshire East Council to oppose the inheritance tax budget changes.

"How can carbon neutrality be achieved if key stakeholder businesses' viability is crippled by inheritance tax?

"Long-term commitments to carbon reduction would be shelved straight away in order to just try and survive this tax."

Fellow Cheshire East farmer Robert Brunt told the committee: "Cheshire farming is uniquely placed to produce high welfare, low carbon food whilst sequestering carbon into hedgerows, trees, grassland and peat areas, whilst providing wildlife habitat and patchwork scenery.

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"But we can only do this if we have the money to invest in the farm business.

"For us, the changes to the farm inheritance tax would put us in the situation where we will no longer have the money to make such investments into the business to continually improve our environmental footprint."

Later in the meeting, when the council was discussing its borough-wide action plan, officers repeatedly said the council was an 'influencer' and could encourage people to reduce their carbon footprint.

Knutsford councillor Stewart Gardiner (Con) referred to the earlier speeches from the two farmers and said: "If we are in a position where our main landowners can't afford to do what they're doing now, how are we going to ensure that we meet those [borough wide] targets?"

Ralph Kemp, head of environmental services, said: "I think the model is for us to be an advisor of best practice and to influence where we can."

Cllr Gardiner said: "Your influence doesn't come with money does it?"

Mr Kemp replied: "No."

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