THE SUDDEN withdrawal of support by Devon County Council for disinfectant matting in the disease-free parish of Exbourne has angered villagers.

Eight weeks after the mats were put down on every road into the village to help prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease, the county council has requested their removal because it claims they are ineffective and a hazard on A and B roads.

Parish councillor Sally Hordern said all farms in Exbourne were still disease-free and the community was doing what it could to try and preserve that situation.

'The village has maintained the mats on a voluntary basis twice, sometimes three times a day,' she said.

'Not only have the farmers been reassured that they have the support and sympathy of the public, but it has created a wonderful community spirit.'

Mrs Hordern slammed the county's decision as 'spineless': 'I would dispute their reasons for withdrawing support — I believe they are frightened of any liability should an accident occur that could be blamed on the disinfectant mats,' she said.

'In 1967 precautions were relaxed prematurely allowing the disease to re-establish itself — I wonder if the powers that be are too young to remember the lessons of the last outbreak.'

But county spokesman Peter Doyle said the change of decision was made in light of the 1967 Northumberland report into foot and mouth disease. It stated that not only were the mats useless but they created a false sense of security.

'In the early days the county council was still very much feeling its way in terms of what sort of policy it should take,' he said. 'The council, as the highways authority, always had reservations about them but recognised the concerns of the community about feeling the need to do something.'

Mr Doyle said only the tyres of a vehicle came into contact with the mats so the rest of the car and people inside it still posed a risk.

'We agree with the NFU that the most importance defence is at the farm gate,' he added. ' People driving over mats are thinking it is OK to go anywhere and that is simply not true,' he said. 'MAFF's guidance is that the mats are ineffective and we feel they are also a road safety hazard.'

Disinfectant matting was identified as a possible contributory factor in a recent motorcycle accident in West Devon, added Mr Doyle.