THERE are so many quangos representing various interests in the countryside that strangers to the bureaucratic process often do no know where to turn for advice.

Now, four of the major Government agencies involved in rural matters have come together to pool their knowledge and set up a website offering a wide range of advice with a particular emphasis on problems associated with rural development.

They are the Countryside Agency, the Environment Agency, English Nature and English Heritage and their news website is called Quality of Life Capital: www.qualityoflifecapital.org.uk

A joint statement issued by all four agencies says that "jobs versus the environment is no argument for whether a new development should go ahead or not. Planning decisions should be made on how the new development might actually enhance people's quality of life."