CLA to step up battle for broadband access

This was the message from the Country Land and Business Association as it prepares for a new set of challenges and battles in the year ahead.

The CLA's regional director Dorothy Fairburn claimed that improving internet access and battling restrictive tasks would be at the centre of the organisation's campaigning in 2010.

Ms Fairburn added that crucial work still remained to be done to ensure a fair deal for UK farmers at the forthcoming Common Agricultural Policy negotiations within the European Union.

Ms Fairburn told the Yorkshire Post: "The last 12 months will undoubtedly be remembered as a tough trading time for many businesses throughout the region.

"While the rural sector has generally fared better than some, it would appear that with a national public debt running at around a staggering 800bn, there is still a long road ahead to full economic recovery.

"Moving into 2010 it will be more important than ever for rural businesses to be able to compete on an even footing."

One of the main areas in need of attention is that of making sure that rural businesses have the same technology access as their urban counterparts.

Ms Fairburn said: "In the 21st century it is hard to believe that any businesses rely on a dial-up connection to access the internet but this is still sadly the case for a significant number of CLA members.

"So far we have successfully persuaded national and regional government to wake up to solutions such as 'piggy-backing' where rural communities can access unused public sector broadband capacity.

"There is still however much work to be done and we will continue to lobby the Government and telecommunications industry for effective and affordable broadband for all those who live and work in the countryside."

Another non-rural friendly piece of legislation due to rear its head in 2010 is the Government's proposed Community Infrastructure Levy.

The new tax will apply to all developments – whether a large new supermarket or a farm building – taking no account of its potential profitability, something rural businesses claim will place them at a disadvantage.

Ms Fairburn called the tax "blatantly unfair on less profitable projects" and called for rural developments to be exempted.

In addition the CLA will be working in Brussels to ensure that an equitable agreement is launched to meet what it calls the "twin challenges" of food and environmental security.

"We are campaigning at the highest levels to maintain the current budget," Ms Fairburn said.

"Hearing the EU Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner coin our twin challenges slogan in speeches is a clear sign that we are making progress, even if the battle is far from over."