Rural business could boost east economy, say landowners

By MICHAEL POLLITT

As the latest quarterly findings of the rural economy reveal a sharp drop in business confidence, the CLA’s regional director, Nicola Currie, said: “The government must strive to reduce red tape, relax planning rules and improve access to broadband if the rural economy is to recover.”

The CLA/Smiths Gore Rural Economy Index (REI) revealed that the farming sector’s confidence for the next 12 months has fallen by 25pc – turning from positive to 1pc negative since the first quarter.

Mrs Currie said that the major rural business concerns – broadband, business rates and planning headaches – were to the fore. And action by government, at national, regional and local level could make a real difference on the ground, she argued. “Rural business could be making more of a contribution if there was more incentive and encouragement. If times are difficult, we know that it is difficult to let offices without modern communications, and let’s face it, broadband is the fourth utility.

“In recent years, rural businesses have been good generators of jobs on the doorstep and investing in the countryside. We’ve got these longer-term running issues which need resolving. I would dare say that broadband and flexibility for rural offices would help,” she added.

On the issue of reducing red tape, Mrs Currie, said; “There’s not a lot happening. “It has gone rather quiet, which is worrying.”

At a meeting in May with farming minister Jim Paice, she had highlighted concerns of small businesses including butchers, who were being forced to comply with heavy-handed interpretation of food hygiene rules and particularly on vacuum-packing meat.

“It is an absolute nightmare. If a vacuum packer is used to seal bags of meat, a new “ruling” requires two machines to be used – one for raw, and one for cooked.

Why do we now need to have two machines when one was used before?” she asked. “It is only guidance, not law, but is being implemented as law. I told Mr Paice: ‘This is nonsense. It is an absolute classic example of red tape but because it falls between two government departments, can we get officials together in one room? We want decisions to be made on scientific fact’.

“We need flexibility to get on out there and earn some money and getting people starting little businesses. We need more of a can-do approach to helping business rather than trying to stop it,” she added.

And government must show more leadership to encourage and enable the rural business community to create employment and generate wealth in the countryside. This s giving new life to a lot of the beautiful farm buildings which are not suitable for agriculture but are central to the landscape that we all love and appreciate,” she added.

Jason Beedell, of Smiths Gore, said: “The message to local and national government is clear – the business environment remains fragile and investment should be supported.”

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