Rural advocate and chairman of the Countryside Agency Ewen Cameron comments on the Government's initial measures to aid rural businesses
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Initial Aid Package to Help Countryside in Crisis A Start But Not Enough - 20 March 2001

Commenting on the government's initial measures to aid rural businesses, after discussions at environment minister Michael Meacher's rural task force meeting today, Ewen Cameron, rural advocate and chairman of the Countryside Agency said:

"The measures announced today by the government are a sensible start to giving immediate help to rural businesses facing closure through lack of customers. But these measures alone will not save many businesses from going bankrupt. Not only have many tourists been put off by the foot and mouth outbreak, but local custom has dried up in some areas as the normal events and activities have been curtailed for fear of spreading the disease."

The Countryside Agency has previously estimated that the cost to tourism alone could amount to £2.6 billion by the end of the Easter holidays and the Centre of Economic and Business Research has estimated a £9 billion loss to the total rural economy as a result of the outbreak.

"The best and fastest way to get real help to rural pubs, shops, hotels and their suppliers is to get the customer back across their thresholds. The countryside is open for business in many areas. Potential customers need to know they can do more for the countryside by exercising their spending power than by staying away. Government guidance to the public on where they could go and what they could do safely was announced last week. The opening of the new tourist helpline and national press campaign will reinforce that message. "

The Agency is also calling on the Government to get the message across about the latest package of measures to help rural businesses in an effective, high profile information campaign. 

Ewen Cameron said: "Rural businesses need the hotline number and available relief measures to be advertised through the national media. This is also a golden opportunity for the Small Business Service to prove itself to the rural community."

Among the other measures, short term VAT deferments are all very well according to Ewen Cameron, but longer term measures will need to be put in place to get many businesses off the critical list. The effects of the foot and mouth outbreak on their business health will last for 12 months or more.

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Notes to editors

Rural advocate and Countryside Agency chairman Ewen Cameron is available for interview in London today or in Cumbria on Wednesday and Thursday.

For further please contact the press office on 020 7340 2906/9.

The March board meeting of the Countryside Agency is being held at the Shap Wells Hotel in Cumbria (on the A6, Junction 39 off M6) 9am on Thursday 22nd March. meetings open to public. The Board will be visiting the village of Over Kellett, near Carnforth, Lancashire (Junction 35 off the M6) tomorrow afternoon. Press briefing with Ewen Cameron at 1.45pm, Wednesday 21st March, in Over Kellett Village Hall  (Junction 35, M6).

  • Nearly 70% of visitors go to the English countryside to visit heritage attractions and theme parks, garden centres, local restaurants and pubs, or to fish, swim or sail.
  • Tourism is worth £12 billion a year in the English countryside (£9 billion on day trips), supports 380,000 jobs in rural England and underpins 25,000 mostly small businesses.
  • There are 105,000 miles (169,000 kms) of rights of way throughout England.  

The Countryside Agency is responsible for advising government and taking action on issues affecting the social, economic and environmental well-being of the English countryside.