Countryside in crisis - rural tsar

The countryside is in crisis, with businesses floundering, villages polarised into wealthy enclaves of commuters and a resentful local population suffering low wages and limited opportunities, the Government’s rural tsar warned today.

Although Shropshire is bucking the trend and sits only behind London when it comes to enterprise activity, a new report revealed that rural businesses are at a huge disadvantage to their urban cousins.

Problems with training, infrastructure and access to government support have stifled rural firms.

Today rural advocate Dr Stuart Burgess said that the size of the rural economy could be doubled to about £700 billion if the Government takes action to unleash enterprise in the countryside.

“The frustration voiced by many rural communities at not being able to provide homes for their sons and daughters is also a frustration that the economic earning potential of rural areas is failing to keep up with cities,” he said.

“As well as condemning many communities to low-skilled, low-paid employment it also condemns them to marginalisation against the greater economic power of the town.

“The risk of not changing our approach is that we will continue to see a growing polarisation of rural communities. Enclaves for wealthy, commuters and the retired bring inequalities, resentments and contribute to a loss of talent and potential.

“We need to make clear that rural economies have a vibrant future - where Britain can be a winner from new economic opportunities.”

Dr Burgess, chairman of the Commission for Rural Communities, was asked by Gordon Brown to carry out an inquiry into England’s rural economy following last year’s floods and foot and mouth and bluetongue outbreaks.

“There is strong evidence that high levels of rural business aspiration are not being translated into their full potential for growth, whilst high levels of entrepreneurship are not bringing with them commensurate levels of wealth creation,” he said.

But he praised homeworkers and small businesses in Shropshire and underlined a host of recommendations to make the most of their entrepreneurial activity.