Rural affairs

Read Anne Marie’s views in her weekly column; an advertisement sponsored by Conservative supporters.

A strong rural economy

The government’s approach over the last thirteen years has failed to realise not just the social, but the economic value of rural institutions such as post offices, pubs and small shops. The rural economy’s plight has worsened as a result of the recession. Rural areas saw the number of people on unemployment benefits double between May 2008 and May 2009, proving that they are not immune from job losses.

We can’t go on like this. We have lost a fifth of rural post offices since 2000 and many village pubs are struggling –with some changing hands constantly. A Conservative government will allow post offices to offer different services and encourage local councils to provide service counters there and introduce schemes to help communities save local shops like those in Broadhempston and Stokeinteignhead.

A future for farming

One in four farmers lives below the poverty line – and the government’s failure to deal with bovine TB hasn’t helped. Only investment in vaccines in the long term and short term measures – including a targeted cull of badgers will eradicate the disease.

Promises to reform the Common Agricultural Policy have come to nothing and the management of the Single Payment Scheme has been poor. CAP reform should top the rural agenda – we need the CAP to be co-financed by member states so that the British don’t subsidise farmers in other countries to the same extent.

We also need to introduce clearer food labelling which will close the loophole which allows meat that has only been processed here to carry a British label. Only food produced in Britain should be able to carry a British stamp.

A better say over affordable housing

Average rural house prices remain higher than urban prices, and the gap is widening. We must allow villages and towns to create community bodies with planning powers.

Local housing trusts should be able to grant themselves planning permission provided that not more than ten per cent of residents object and that the community is not expanded by more than ten per cent in a decade. This would put villagers firmly in control of new developments in their area.

Out and about

I was delighted to visit the Dame Hannah Rogers Trust last week which has just moved into Seale Hayne. Their plans to develop the lives of young people with both physical and learning disabilities, develop small commercial businesses and integrate their activities into the local community are visionary.

Last Friday I supported parents at Hazeldown School holding up placards so those dropping off children thought twice about stopping on the yellow zig-zag lines outside the school. I then went on to the launch of Volunteering in Health in Teignmouth, a great operation which provides among other things a very personal transport service to those in need.