POLITICIANS have been told they must be realistic about rural policies.

Henry Robinson, president of the Country Land and Business Association, was speaking at the CLA Game Fair at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire.

He launched “Unlock the Countryside’s Potential” – a CLA manifesto of rural policies – at the start of the President’s debate, which featured George Eustice, farms minister, Huw Irranca-Davies, Labour shadow environment minister, and Lib Dem Lord Marks of Henley on Thames.

Mr Robinson said: “If rural businesses are to thrive, they not only need access to broadband, they need access to goodquality broadband.

“That is why we are calling on the government to create a universal Service Obligation of at least 10Mbps.

“We also urge the government to stop gold plating rules around CAP payments and start providing some clarity so that we can compete with EU member states.”

The growing population and increasing demand for food and energy, was putting more and more pressure on the environment.

“We want the next government to look at developing a rural market which recognises conservation as a crop and reward the providers accordingly,”

he said.

Mr Eustice said the government had tried to make the CAP payments system simpler, but had failed.

He said: “We tried hard to provide a simplified system but it is now more complex than before. The new CAP reform is a step backwards but we are working on a more flexible system which will also help improve biodiversity and water quality.”

Mr Irranca-Davies said the value of the countryside needs to be understood as part of a bigger picture of the UK’s economy.

He said: “We have a need for affordable housing to maintain vibrant communities and keep the shops, pubs and schools open – but not enough houses have been built in the countryside for many years.”

Lord Marks told the packed audience that jobs, homes and services were key concerns for the countryside.

Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss spent an hour with CLA leaders before touring the Game Fair.

Mr Robinson told her that there must be a policy agenda which will encourage business development, increase food production and recognise the cost of maintaining a well managed environment.

He said: “We talked about the provision of clarity on CAP measures and the need to set farmers free to run their businesses and we talked about flooding.

“There is always a financial cost attached to conservation and farmers who provide public benefits should be properly paid for doing so. I told her that farmers cannot afford to be green unless they are in the black.”

Mr Robinson said landowners had both the will and the ability to be a major part of the solution to flooding - and that the CLA was doing all it could to ensure the right measures were put in place.