Regional Rural Policy

GOSW was a key player in the development of national rural policy for the Rural Strategy 2004, published last July. This is part of GOSW’s work that is not often visible to regional partners. We are able to apply our experience and understanding of the needs and delivery mechanisms in the country’s most rural region – which hopefully leads to a more responsive national policy delivering grassroots rural development more effectively. It also offers the chance to press the case for appropriate resourcing to address our own rural needs.

GOSW’s extensive involvement ranged from membership of the board overseeing the whole of Defra’s Modernising Rural Delivery Programme to commenting on detailed points. GOSW was able to help develop some of the key regional aspects of the new rural policy, especially those regarding greater devolution of decision-making and priority planning. We also played a central role in developing the concept of local Rural Delivery Pathfinders.

And we are not just offering ideas and advice - there is also a practical aspect to our rural policy work. We have provided Defra with detailed analysis of rural transport issues and solutions – drawing on the regional conference held last year by the South West Rural Affairs Forum and from the many local rural transport initiatives found across the region. This provided the basis for Defra’s rural proofing of the guidance issued to all local authorities for their next Local Transport Plans, helping to ensure they are well focused on rural needs.

But GOSW also has to turn the policy into practical results. That has been done through development of the Regional Rural Delivery Framework and the Rural Delivery Pathfinder in Dorset. There will hopefully be many good lessons learnt from these. And again, GOSW will press for them to acted upon in national policy, both to help the South West secure the best for our rural areas - and to let others benefit from these innovations.