Government need to produce rural white paper urgently

Countryside Alliance, one of Northern Ireland’s leading rural campaigning organisations, has backed a call by a local politician for a rural white paper in Northern Ireland.

Lord Rogan, the Ulster Unionist leader in the Lords, called on the Government to urgently produce a rural white paper in partnership with other interested groups, which would help address a wide range of issues presently affecting the rural community. The UUP peer was speaking in a Parliamentary debate on the state of the countryside.

Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, Ronan Gorman, said a rural white paper was needed immediately and should be compiled jointly by a number of Government departments and rural pressure groups.

He added: “A rural white paper would first of all highlight the problems that presently exist across the whole rural community. After this, initiatives can be developed and action taken by Government. In producing this, input is needed from a number of Government departments and agencies but also the views of rural community groups should be considered.

“Whilst the crisis in farming is well documented, there is much less understanding of the other very real problems in the wider rural community. Disadvantage for rural businesses, poor infrastructure, lack of broadband facilities in the countryside and a misunderstanding of traditional rural activities are all things that need attention."

Lord Rogan claimed rural people had as much rights to equitable access to services as those in urban areas, "something the Government throughout the UK must continually remind itself of, and aim to deliver on", he concluded in his Lords speech.

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