Nick Herbert explains how rural areas are feeling the effects of the recession

Nick Herbert was appointed shadow secretary of state for the environment, food and rural affairs last week and today he has followed Eric Pickles's lead by taking the party's message to the people of Devon and Cornwall.

He's not there in the flesh, but he has written about Labour's failures on rural affairs for the Western Morning News, whose readers include voters in a large number of West Country marginals, many of which are currently held by the Lib Dems.

Here are just some of the ways in which he explains that rural communities are being hit especially hard by the recession:

• In remote rural areas, the number of businesses per 10,000 people is almost three times the urban level: the Commission for Rural Communities has warned that lower consumer and business spending, together with difficult borrowing conditions, have led to job losses and business closures;
• The marked downturn in the construction industry has led to a significant decline in the demand for wood;
• Over a third of tourism businesses have reported a decline in profits;
• House prices are significantly higher in the countryside than in urban areas, yet earnings are lower, so there are fewer first time buyers: although values have now fallen sharply, the unavailability of credit means there’s no silver lining of increased affordability;
• Last year’s soaring fuel prices clobbered rural motorists who rely on their cars where the provision of public transport is poor;
• Rural homes have seen the cost of heating oil double over the last two years;
• Rural England has lost over a fifth of its entire post office network since the new millennium: nearly 1,400 rural branches have closed;
• Well over 200 of the smallest schools have closed since 1997;
• In this Government’s first two terms, 384 police stations closed in the shires, nearly five times the number in the metropolitan boroughs;
• Rural pubs are closing at the alarming rate of two a day.

He concludes by stating that over the last decade the Labour Government has shown "arrogant disdain" for people's views and that the Conservatives offer an alternative government which would both understand and listen to the the countryside:

"Across rural Britain, quiet communities have become angered by a Government which won’t even listen, still less give them a say. People have marched and protested. They have travelled up to Westminster to lobby Parliament. But too often Ministers are deaf to the countryside.
 
"We desperately need a new Government which understands rural Britain and cares about it.  But we also need to reverse the trend of centralisation, to end the years of thoughtless dictat from Whitehall, so that rural communities are respected... Turnout in rural Britain at the last general election was significantly higher than in urban areas.  Rural communities are crying out to be heard. They should no longer be ignored."

As the man who oversaw the transformation of the British Field Sports Society into the Countryside Movembent - the precursor to the Countryside Alliance - Nick is extremely well-placed to take on the rural affairs brief. We look forward to hearing more from him on these issues in the months to come.

Jonathan Isaby

Comments

[Another councillor]

And rural bus services are suffering as the subsidies are withdrawn as pressure comes on the council tax

[Tanuki]

And add in

o Significant increase in fly-tipping because councils have hiked the charges for disposal of trade waste.

o Councils cutting back on road maintenance/verge-cutting/drain-clearance.

o Continued increases in regulation and compliance-costs for farmers and rural businesses.

o Increasing road-tax on the sorts of vehicles many rural businesses need.

o Badgers.

[Edward Huxley]

We have lost post offices everywhere, not just in rural areas, and what caused that? Countless EU directives, which allowed continental firms to cream off the profitable business in the name of competition, with promises of a better and cheaper service!

Sadly the Conservatives did not oppose this - must not upset our European "partners". Not much use Nick Herbert complaining about this now.

And to think, we used to have the best postal service in the world.

[A Candid Mover]

Did he wave to Wiltshire on his way down the A303? We're the ones with that ye olde stone lego set built next to a public convenience and return solid Tory majorities (assume makes an ass of U and ME).

A visit to the village of Imber might enlighten as to where we are currently headed.

[Chris]

The Countryside Alliance bloodsports organisation has taken over the Tory party.

[The Bishop Swine]

It always struck me as odd as a boy living on the Wilts/Oxon border, that we always returned a Tory MP and the Labour party always came in a very weak third. Of course there was poverty but the poor local knew that Labour would only make it worse which of course they always had and one assumed always would. So the shires are at least not disappointed by the slick wide boys when they finally got a sniff of power again.
Exactly what has Westminster delivered to Wiltshire ? Our schools have been deprived of funds for decades. Our Biggest town appears to be Muslim these days, if you dare to venture away from its shopping centre.
Do you think the average man going about his business feels well represented of course they can always watch the Welsh debate or the Scottish wag their tongues or even the Northern Irish playing democracy. However there is no representation for Wiltshire outside of Westminster.Labour has delived nothing but more of the same recession to rural Wiltshire.

[The Bishops wife]

"The Countryside Alliance bloodsports organisation has taken over the Tory party."

So Chris what is your point? Do you believe that PC mentality should come before culture and tradition. Having rested the Fox for so long the dogs will have no trouble chasing them down.

[David Belchamber]

It sounds as if we could have a ConHome Wiltshire branch!

[Conand]

I would have said: 'Rural England (& CORNWALL) has lost over a fifth of its entire post office network since the new millennium: nearly 1,400 rural branches have closed'

The comment by Chris @ 17:58 is recycled rubbish.

[Chris]

"culture and tradition"

Yes the modern cuddly green Tory party...what's next? Bear baiting and badger baiting re-legalised?

How about public executions?

Knowing the Tory party (the real one not the PR invented 'new' one) any of the above would be right up their street.

Same old Tories, same old backward, outdated gory Tories.

[Chris]

"The Bishops wife"

What a truly nasty individual you are.
And you expect people to think the Tory party has changed when your debased sadism is on display. You are showing your true colours.

[Patsy Sergeant]

Yup, our Post Offices have closed, the non-motorway roads have sharp pot-holes in them, b..... your tyres. But I suppose Chris you would say that is our fault (somehow). Likewise the fact that we are going to have to take all London's rubbish in the near future.

I wonder what riles you most - the fact that the countryside is still there, or that it is not completely covered in houses - yet.

[James]

'Chris' might possibly read Chris Gale, Chairman of Chippenham Labour Party and also spokesman for Western Animal Rights Network

[Basil Malaise]

Not forgetting that people (and businesses) in rural areas have to suffer what can best be described as a pathetic broadband service. A Universal Service Obligation on BT and Virgin Media to provide at least 2MB, which is hardly fast these days, would be a winner.

[Chris]

Patsy

As I live smack on the doorstep of the countryside and spend a great deal of time there, you are way off mark.
Why do you lot think everyone in the Countryside supports the thugs of the Countryside Alliance?