McLeod urges rural communities to have their say on SRDP funding

 

The consultation will be supported by a series of roadshows around the country including one in the Cairndale Hotel in Dumfries on 20^th May. An online presentation will also be available for people who cannot attend one of the meetings. A more detailed consultation will be held later this year.

 

Dr McLeod commented:

 

“The Scotland Rural Development Programme is very important to rural communities and businesses and I think it is vital that anyone with an interest in the rural economy and economic development takes the opportunity to air their views.

 

“The current SRDP will deliver around £1.2 billion in funding for rural Scotland. Unfortunately the budget is going to be tighter than previously, since the UK Government has not argued hard enough in Europe for a good deal for Scotland during the negotiations on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

 

“However, even with that limitation, the SRDP will still be an important way of supporting rural communities and the rural economy. If anything, the tightening budget makes it all the more important that the public’s views are heard.”

 

Ends.

 

Note to Editors: details of the SRDP roadshows can be found here:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/SRDP/SRDP20142012/SRDPConsultationRoadshows