The way ahead for the uplands

The problem is that countless reports have come to exactly the same conclusion over the past decade – and too little has been done to tackle many of the policy shortcomings highlighted again today.

It is already widely known that too many well-intentioned initiatives to save the hill areas have done more damage than good to the communities concerned. This is not new. Neither is the Commission's view that rural areas, like the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, are suffering from a shortage of affordable housing. This has been highlighted time and time again.

Nor is the report's conclusion that more needs to be done to encourage business growth in these rural idylls – and that they are seriously disadvantaged by slow internet connections and the absence of adequate mobile phone reception. This is another recurring theme.

The challenge facing the Commission is to ensure that similar reports are not required in the future.

The only way for this to happen is to ensure that concerted action is taken, both by the Commission's members and the Government, to ensure the countryside is placed at the heart of the policy-making process. The political make-up of the new coalition Government means that it has an understanding of the needs of rural areas, unlike its Labour predecessor.

The downside is that it has inherited the biggest budget deficit in history and that the country's economic growth forecasts had to be revised downwards yesterday.

Put simply, there will be no extra money to implement the CRC's recommendations which, at their core, highlight the need for a new generation of countryside custodians to help preserve and protect cherished landscapes to help sustain the agricultural industry and boost the rural economy.

What is probably needed is a new mindset – a "can do" attitude that sees resources and enthusiasm pooled in local areas so communities set about tackling many of these challenges at a local level rather than waiting for the Government to act on their behalf. It is the best way forward.