Time for change and a fairer deal for rural communities and Harborough: New policy proposals to protect rural services and help the rural economy
July 13 2009
Edward Garnier, MP for Harborough, today added his support to a new set of rural policy proposals by Conservatives which aim to respect rural people, return power to rural communities, protect rural services and revive the rural economy across Leicestershire and Harborough
A new policy paper, launched as part of the Conservatives' Rural Action campaign, outlines a series of proposals to end Labour's 'decade of disrespect' for rural communities. They include plans to:
· Scrap limits on surplus places so that good schools in villages and small towns can prosper and new ones can open where parents, not Whitehall, want them. Official figures show that 4 schools have closed across Leicestershire since 1997.
· Give councils new powers to levy local business rate discounts to support local shops or encourage the reuse of empty rural buildings.
· Support the Post Office network, giving them freedom to offer a wider range of business services and encourage local authorities to open 'council counters' in local branches. Use unspent money from the TV digital switchover to give remote areas better broadband coverage.
· Ensure fairer funding for Harborough District Council, and devolve down funding and powers currently held by distant regional quangos.
Edward Garnier said:
"Rural Harborough has suffered a decade of disrespect by Labour. Local services have been withdrawn, rural communities have been denied a voice, and power has been taken away from local people.
"We need a new approach to reverse the trend of centralisation and interference from Whitehall bureaucrats, so that rural communities and the rural way of life across the county and the district are respected.
"Over the past decade the Government has shown itself to be deaf to the concerns of the countryside. Conservatives will ensure that Harborough's rural voice is heard, protect our rural services and help revive our rural economy."
