Rural-proof report (From Gazette & Herald)

Rural-proof report

THE Countryside Alliance has welcomed the Countryside Agency's report into "rural-proofing" of Government policy.

Commenting on the report, alliance chief executive Richard Burge said the report clearly outlines the progress made so far to 'rural-proof' Government policy, and ensure that rural considerations are an integral part of Government policy making.

"It is clear that steps have been taken in the right direction to implement rural-proofing, but there is still a very long way to go before we will begin to see real improvements at ground level.

"The report suggests that most Government departments have not yet built rural-proofing into existing policy-making systems or promoted it internally to a sufficient degree. This must be accelerated immediately."

He added: "We would again urge Ewen Cameron to outline how the Countryside Agency itself is to be rural-proofed, as we remain unconvinced that a rural advocate within the Countryside Agency can provide the independent oversight that is so badly needed to ensure the concerns of rural people are taken seriously".

Updated: 10:57 Thursday, April 18, 2002