BUDGET cuts of around £45 million being made by the Government's environment department to key rural services in England are deplorable, say West Devon Borough councillors. The council has decided to write to Environment Secretary David Miliband alerting him and his ministers to the hardship that will be caused by the cuts, and urging them to take action to prevent similar reductions in next year's budget. DEFRA (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) announced a budget overspend of £200 million during the summer and in October revealed where the cuts will be made. The overspend has been partly blamed on bird flu precautions and issues over single farm payments. The cuts include a £3 million reduction to the State Veterinary Service, £23.7 million from the Environment Agency, £15,000 from the Meat and Livestock Commission and £12.9 million from Natural England. Cllr Margaret Garton, leader of the council's Independent group, who brought the issue before the council, said: 'The majority of people who live in rural England such as West Devon will be affected in some way by these cutbacks. 'Whether it be small businesses, farmers or residents, these cuts will have a great effect on our borough. 'This is not just about farmers, these cutbacks will affect our whole community.' She added that the cuts to the State Veterinary Service could not come at a worse time with the rise of TB and the high level of surveillance and research needed to combat diseases such as bird flu. Cllr James McInnes, leader of the Conservative group, said that hundreds of English farmers had still not received their single farm payments from 2005 and 2006. 'We must make it quite clear to ministers that the continuing inefficiency and chaos is not good enough.'