Businesses pledge to support Staffordshire’s rural economy

BUSINESSES and community organisations in rural Staffordshire have pledged to work together to help the county’s economy prosper.

Forty organisations from across the county have signed up to a Rural Declaration aimed at improving opportunities, environmental protection in rural areas and forging stronger ties between the county council and its partners.

The declaration will see rural communities, businesses and the environment benefit through a boost in job creation, independent living and protection of green space.

The vast majority (80%) of Staffordshire is rural and the county council said such areas played a vital part in the county’s character and attraction as a place to live, work and invest.

Staffordshire’s cabinet member for environment and assets Cllr Mark Winnington said: “The fact that we already have 40 organisations signed up to the rural declaration is testament to the hard work and commitment of everyone involved to boost rural living and working and to protect the environment.

“Together we have already made great strides in recent years in improving rural Staffordshire, its communities and contribution to our economic growth. This has been an interactive process as we boost growth and opportunities in our urban areas at the same time.”

He added that the county council was already working to improve living and working in rural areas through various schemes including a £7.4m investment to significantly improve superfast broadband access and the introduction of a rural premium to enhance direct payments for those living in isolated areas.

It is also offering support to communities through its bulk oil buying scheme and helping rural SMEs through its business loans scheme.