Fears for rural economy if ministers ignore countryside issues after Brexit
Economic uncertainty fuelled by Brexit will harm the prospects of the rural economy, if ministers fail to include the countryside in future political thinking, it has been claimed.
Hundreds of farmers and rural business leaders, including those from Shropshire and Mid Wales, attended the Country Land and Business Association's (CLA's) rural business conference in Westminster yesterday.
At the conference, the CLA asked politicians including Defra secretary Andrea Leadsom to do more to help the countryside unlock its economic potential.
Caroline Bedell, regional director for the CLA Midlands, from Shawbury, said although the conference provided optimism for the region's farmers, improvements had to be made for the the agriculture sector.
She said: "Ministers didn't shed any light on what was going on with Brexit and what it would mean for the countryside but I think it's important to say that this will provide a huge opportunity for farmers and rural business owners, that come with change."
Ross Murray, CLA president and rural business owner from Wales, said: "For far too long Government policy has focused on business support and infrastructure spending in our towns and cities without addressing the specific needs to promote growth and investment in the countryside.
"Never has it been more important to address this imbalance than today as the rural economy prepares for the potentially seismic changes of Brexit."
Mrs Bedell also said a number of issues affecting the region were also discussed at the conference including broadband connectivity and flooding.
She said: "In order to encourage businesses to come and invest in Shropshire, we have to have broadband connectivity and improvements, without that it severely hinders businesses and puts them off, that's something that affects not only Shropshire but other rural areas in the country."
Mrs Bedell said "a more joined-up approach" to flood management was also sought by those from Shropshire. It comes as experts said last winter's floods were the UK's "most extreme on record", which posed significant challenges for farmers and their crops.
At the conference, Agricultural leaders also heard that landowning businesses in rural England and Wales are currently investing more than £13 billion a year – and £1 billion in Wales.
