FOR hundreds of years the Vale of Evesham has been at the heart of one of the most important food-producing regions in Britain, according to a detailed report of the industry.

After months of meetings, consultation and research, the Vale of Evesham Agriculture and Food Distribution Policy Development Panel has published its findings.

The report, which looks onto the history of the industry, said fruit, vegetables and other crops have always been sent from the area to markets across England and further afield.

However, in recent decades the industry has gone through major changes, many of which have affected the area's residents, whether or not they make their living in agriculture or horticulture. Issues such as heavy goods vehicles using inappropriate roads, pack-houses expanding in quiet farmyards, accommodation for casual workers and the estimated 1,000 gang labourers who are brought into the Vale each day impact on everybody's lives.

The report adds that as well as these broader effects, it is estimated that ten per cent of workers in the Vale are still employed within the food industry. The distinctive landscape and heritage created by market gardening also helps to support 3,396 tourism-related jobs with thousands of visitors coming to the area for attractions such as the Blossom Trail, Asparagus Fair and the Plum Fair.

To answer the growing concerns about the present and future of the industry, Wychavon District Council took a long, hard, look at the situation.

Chairman of the Vale of Evesham Agriculture and Food Distribution Policy Development Panel, councillor Audrey Steel said the report has now been sent to all interested parties, including the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. "It has been an experience compiling this report and, as a group, we have learned an awful lot, which will be of use in the future."

She said that as well as producing a wide range of recommendations for the future of the industry, the way the report was put together has had a positive impact for local businesses. "In the round-table meetings we brought together many people involved in growing and distribution and helped them to communicate with each other more effectively. We also identified some gaps in training provision, which can now be addressed."

After these meetings with industry managers, workers, community leaders and individual residents, the panel made dozens of recommendations covering subjects such as planning, transport, labour matters and community concerns.

On the subject of transport, the report suggested several far-reaching proposals. Among these were the possibility of creating 20mph zones in certain villages, the addition of multi-lingual signs in the area, better regulation of foreign lorries and increased consultation with the public before vehicle operators licences are granted.

"Having signs in foreign languages is an idea that will really help the flow of traffic in villages," said Mrs Steel. "It is something that the highways agency and the county council need to take on board immediately and start to implement."

The report also urges the government to look more closely at the gang-master system, a call that recent tragedies have made a matter of national concern. A gang-master code of practice is suggested, with an emphasis on training in basic skills, such as English language and driver training.

Concerns are also raised about the possible impact of the expansion of the European Union in May, when the Vale could become a magnet for migrating workers from Eastern Europe. "It should be remembered that if we did not have foreign workers in whatever capacity the Vale of Evesham fruit and vegetable industry would be dead on its feet," added Mrs Steel.

Mrs Steel said: "The area has totally depended on growing in the past - obviously there has been some diversification in latter years but it is still a very important centre. We certainly do not want to see the business disappear from the area, we have got to keep the Vale of Evesham growing, in every sense."