Making the most of rural economy
CLA welcomes report to help revitalise the countryside
THE Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has responded after the Government set out its plan to support rural businesses and communities.
The CLA has long called for more strategic thinking from Government in supporting the rural economy, something which fits in with the Prime Minister’s agenda for ‘levelling up’ every part of the UK.
The report, Rural Proofing in England 2020: Delivering policy in a rural context, includes a commitment to rolling out gigabit broadband; tackling rural crime; investing in the bus network to improve services in the countryside; combining employment growth with high employment standards; and ensuring that farmers profit by producing food for the nation.
CLA South East represents thousands of farmers, landowners and rural businesses in Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Buckinghamshire
and the Isle of Wight.
Regional director Michael Valenzia said: “With the rural economy 16 per cent less productive than the national average, there is no doubt that the countryside is being held back. So we welcome this report, which shows Government is beginning to recognise the potential we have to boost national GDP.
“But Government must be
more ambitious for the rural economy, and put forward a coherent cross-departmental strategy with a laser-like focus on boosting productivity, growing the economy, creating jobs and building stronger communities across rural Britain.”
For more information, visit www.cla.org.uk/your-area/southeast/regional-news and follow @CLASouthEast on Twitter.