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Rural watchdog body, the CLA, has urged ministers not to ignore the rural economy when setting up the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). East Midlands director, Helen Wooolley, said that the rural economy “must be represented” on any LEP boards which are created.

As government ministers begin to consider requests to create the LEPs, CLA East Midlands director Helen Woolley said: “It is vital the interests of the rural economy are taken into account in this process.

“Firstly, the LEP network must extend to the countryside. The government says they are to reflect ‘functional economic areas’. Rural business is about far more than just farming, and the issues the government wants LEPs to deal with - planning, housing, transport and infrastructure projects - are all major concerns for countryside based businesses.

“Secondly, whatever form the new network takes, it is important the interests of the rural economy are properly represented on LEP boards.”

The LEPs will replace the regional development agencies across the country, which will become obsolete by 2012.

The rural business leader added: “The rural economy must be represented at board level if an LEP covers, to a significant extent, any rural areas. In the past, the board of every RDA included at least one named director to represent rural concerns and we see no reason why the situation should be different with LEPs.”

Woolley said that the CLA would write to the ministers involved to set out its concerns on this issue.