Government must reconnect with rural businesses, says CLA

The Government response to the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) report by the Rural Advocate on the impact of the recession on the rural economy, fails to come up with viable options for rural communities, says the CLA.

CLA West Midlands director Caroline Bedell said: "We are pleased the performance of the Government's system to aid rural and urban businesses has improved, but more needs to be done to reconnect Government to the needs of country based companies and the rural economy.

"We are continuing to speak to the Regional Development Agencies, encouraging them to place far greater emphasis on rural business support.

"With regard to planning, the CLA has long called for an adaptable and flexible system that works with the grain of rural business and delivers affordable rural housing."

The Staffordshire based rural membership leader said a flexible planning system would resolve many of the current difficulties.

"We are pleased that the Government has decided to sponsor a research and good practice report, the aim of which is to encourage badly performing local councils to improve their delivery of affordable rural housing," she said.

"In terms of communication infrastructure, we are astonished the Government still fails to recognise that without an effective broadband infrastructure in rural areas the full potential of the rural economy can never be realised.

"The CLA will continue to stress that Government needs to work more closely with rural businesses and communities to understand their needs and then to proactively promote these findings with other Government departments to ensure delivery on the ground."

To read the Government's response to the report, visit: http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/pdfs/voice/rural-advocate-response.pdf

Contact

Caroline Bedell MRICS FAAV
Director Midlands

Caroline leads the Midlands team and has overall responsibility for the management of the CLA’s regional business and membership. A qualified Chartered Surveyor respected throughout the industry, she also represents the CLA on a wide range of regional committees and panels.

T: 01785 337010
caroline.bedell@cla.org.uk

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