This is the start of the 5th year since DEFRA's wrote regulations that were imposed on our industry without any consultation - and there must be consequences for a UK government department who through it's own lack of talent and due diligence contributed to a loss of one third of the UK's licensed boarding capacity.
In 2019 DEFRA imposed ill-informed and unwarranted reforms on our industry.
DEFRA cannot be allowed to deflect from the consequences by blaming anyone else - DEFRA have engaged in years of foot-dragging because recognising the irrepairable harm they've inflicted on our sector would mean accepting responsibility, and so DEFRA must be fired to save our industry.
Similarly, the overreach and incompetence displayed by local authority employees must have consequences.
Local authorities cannot assume the power to abuse business owners, close private businesses or demand capital investments.
Local authorities must be relieved of responsibility for inspections and reduced to the task of issuing licenses because when challenged, spokespeople have in almost all cases been unapologetic, inept, and by design and intent, beholden to no one.