Natural England

Countryside Agency Budget Comment - 7 March 2001

Commenting on the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget statement today, the Countryside Agency welcomed:

• fiscal measures to help regenerate High Streets could make a real difference to market towns, including:-
• new community investment tax credit
• 100% capital allowances to renovate empty flats over shops
• stamp duty abolished in designated areas to bring disused properties back into use
• £1bn package to speed up regeneration
• the new grant for church repairs, effectively cutting their VAT payment 
• assistance for small businesses to reduce their tax bill and simplify VAT (37% of businesses in rural areas)
• additional support from the Small Business Service
• tax relief for cleaning up contaminated land, and 
• landfill tax increased to £12 per tonne (an element of which benefits countryside environmental and community projects)  

Countryside Agency chief executive Richard Wakeford said: "There's much in this Budget that could help regeneration in rural areas. But more help than this will be needed to tackle the growing crisis facing businesses in the countryside that depend on visitors, beyond the immediate agri-compensation to farmers directly affected by the current outbreak.of foot and mouth."

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Note to editors: Further information from Isobel Coy on 0207 340 2906.