THE Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) will be increasingly important in providing vital rural support, say experts.

Rural stakeholders should make the most of the programme, said Phil Roberts, partnerships director at Advantage West Midlands.

Mr Roberts was speaking at a national rural investment summit, held in Dunchurch, Warwickshire, on Friday (11 September).

The RDPE aims to safeguard and enhance the countryside, improve the competitiveness and sustainability of rural businesses, and help communities to thrive.

The programme, which runs until 2013, is funded jointly by the UK government and EU through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

In the West Midlands, alone more than £53m is available to deliver the economic and social elements of the scheme.

It includes £25m to support local food and drink, tourism, environmental technologies and farming projects.

Specialist rural support includes an £11m market towns initiative, the introduction of rural hubs and a Rural Regeneration Zone.

“These are tough times,” Mr Roberts told delegates at the summit.

The event was organised by the Commission for Rural Communities, Advantage West Midlands and East Midlands Development Agency.

Mr Roberts said: “The West Midlands is suffering more than any other region in this recession. In some of our market towns unemployment has risen by 50%.”

The West Midlands Taskforce is focusing business support in market towns to help larger employers retain jobs and build resilience.

In addition, £150,000 of extra support for advisory bodies and a £250,000 package to support retailers is being rolled out.

All the measures were above and beyond Advantage West Midlands’ current rural programme, said Mr Roberts.

“It’s vital that we continue to listen to the businesses trading in the ‘front line’ of the recession,” he added.

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