A GOVERNMENT minister gave a personal commitment to visit the Island to find a solution to the problems farmers have in disposing of dead livestock.
In a Commons debate called by Island MP Andrew Turner, environment minister Dan Norris gave the commitment.
Mr Turner raised the issue following a court case brought by the Isle of Wight Council in April under the animal by-product regulations that was thrown out by a judge.
The judge highlighted the impossible dilemma faced by farmers, who had no Island incinerator but were not allowed to bury fallen stock either.
Temporary burial permission was subsequently put in place.
Mr Turner drew attention to the clear duty of government to provide 'adequate arrangements and infrastructure’ to enable farmers to comply with the law.
He said: "I called for some innovative thinking. Examples might be a pilot project for bio-digestion, which harnesses natural decomposing processes and, as a by-product, produces green energy, or sharing facilities with St Mary’s Hospital, which currently ships all clinical and hazardous waste to the mainland, at considerable cost."
Reporter: richardw@iwcpmail.co.uk