Big welcome for new rural transport
policy

NEW Government policy on private rural transport has received an unusually warm welcome for rural businesses in Yorkshire. It is a "critical breakthrough" according to the Country Land and Business Association, usually one of the Government's harshest critics.

Until now, official planning policy has been to restrict the use of private vehicles in the countryside to force people - locals and visitors alike - to use more public transport to ease pressure on narrow country lanes.

The CLA, however, made strong protests against this policy, pointing out that many rural businesses like farms, hotels and haulage companies "could not realistically survive using public transport alone."

And in a new policy on sustainable development published this week, Whitehall has accepted this view.

The CLA'S Yorkshire director Dorothy Fairburn comments: ""Until now, we have been battling a narrow measure of sustainability which focused entirely on private vehicle use. We have campaigned vigorously to change this view and the government have clearly listened to our arguments that urban and rural areas have differing needs which require different solutions - policies should reflect local circumstances."

The CLA has applauded the fact that the paper recognises the importance of agriculture, mineral, energy production and tourism within the scope of acceptable economic activity taking place in the countryside. It also highlights the importance of finding effective and efficient uses for old and vacant buildings - including historic building.

"This paper sets out a new - and welcome - vision of sustainable development. It has given clear policy guidance to local and regional planning authorities on a wide range of acceptable development in the countryside." says Miss Fairburn.

"It has brought economy back to the same table as environment and community, where it rightly deserves to be. The government has accepted our argument that if planning policy does not respond to local market signals it becomes a barrier to employment and economic well-being - and that is a critical breakthrough."