Report reveals problems with North hills’ economy

Apr 23 2009 by Dave Black, The Journal

TOUGH planning controls, limited economic options and poor quality broadband coverage have been highlighted as some of the key problems facing upland areas of the North in a major study.

They are among a number of challenges which need to be tackled if the region’s high hills, fells and moorlands are to prosper in the future, according to evidence gathered by the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC).

Farmers, shepherds, businesses and community representatives from the uplands have given their views to the CRC at recent hearings in Northumberland, County Durham and Cumbria, as part of a national inquiry which will result in a report to the Prime Minister on the way forward.

People and organisations now have until the end of this month to submit final evidence to the CRC, which will then make recommendations to Gordon Brown on how Government policy can help upland communities become more secure, prosperous and sustainable.

Key issues which have been raised in the past few weeks at hearings in the North include:

Strict planning controls in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty make it difficult for farmers to increase production by using new, modern and bigger constructions.

The poor quality or absence of broadband and mobile phone coverage in upland areas restricts business opportunities and constrains potential growth.

There are limited economic opportunities in the hills if things go wrong. One description of the options available to the uplands was ‘grouse, sheep or forestry’.

The ‘big is best’ philosophy in Government policy-making is proving enormously damaging to rural areas.

Yesterday Mark Shucksmith, professor of planning at Newcastle University and part of the CRC inquiry panel, said: “The hearings have brought up many significant issues that Government needs to address.

“Some participants felt that disadvantage in upland communities is largely the same as in any other community, but the lack of significant clusters of need means it is generally hidden, not picked up in statistics, and goes largely unaddressed.”