Call to cut red tape in rural areas
THE Government must work to cut red tape if the rural economy is to survive, says the Country Land and Business Association.
CLA president William Worsley, a Yorkshire landowner, said that Prime Minister David Cameron’s commitment to supporting business made at the Conservative party spring conference must include measures to avoid excessive regulation in rural areas.
Mr Worsley welcomed the Coalition’s review of farming red tape but said dozens of recommendations to unlock the potential of the rural economy had yet to be put into practice. For example, householders are able to put solar panels on their roof without having to obtain planning permission but farm businesses still do, something the CLA is campaigning against.
Oliver Harwood, the CLA’s chief surveyor said: “There needs to be a complete review of environmental regulation.”