REDDITCH MP Jacqui Smith has taken an unprecedented step to support a farming family in their latest bid to survive after the foot and mouth crisis forced them to sell their home and most of their land.
The Cookes, of Astwood Farm, Astwood Bank, lost everything, including an £80,000 farm shop, in the wake of foot and mouth but BSE and the destruction of their poultry stock also attributed to their downfall.
In an attempt to pay off debts the family has submitted a planning application to Redditch Council to change some farm buildings into housing and for the first time in such a case Ms Smith has stepped in.
Ms Smith has only ever commented on three other applications, the Far Moor Lane housing development in Winyates, the mixed use Alcad development in Smallwood and the Feckenham housing development, all of which were much larger.
Vanda Cookes said she was very touched and overwhelmed by the support offered by Ms Smith who has been in constant contact with the family.
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