Small rural businesses ‘strangled at birth’ by biased local authorities

SMALL businesses are being strangled at birth by biased local authorities who are costing jobs in rural areas.

The claim was made at the annual conference of Irish Rural Link (IRL) – a national body campaigning for sustainable rural development.

IRL chief executive Seamus Boland said job losses in construction and traditional manufacturing in rural areas proves that new non-traditional forms of enterprise must be encouraged in order to maintain rural vibrancy.

There are opportunities in teleworking, artisan food processing, farm-based tourism and rural leisure but they are all being “strangled at birth”.

Many more small rural enterprises are struggling to keep their heads above water because of the credit crunch, only to find they are being pushed under by an overzealous planning system.

Claiming local authorities have an institutional bias against non-traditional rural enterprises, Mr Boland said IRL has submitted a rural and regional manifesto to all political parties in advance of the local elections.

“Planning has become increasingly complicated, expensive and unpredictable for business people.

“Planners are very quick to slap enforcement notices on small businesses who attempt any sort of expansion, claiming it is intensification of a use which requires planning permission.

“But they must recognise that development which may not be acceptable in a rural town’s green belt may be acceptable in a more isolated location, or vice versa,” he said.

Mr Boland said planners must be aware of the pressures on entrepreneurs when they are drafting conditions.

They should avoid imposing onerous requirements.

“Planning authorities should promote formal consultations with entrepreneurs. All relevant planning authority departments should be represented at these meetings to ensure entrepreneurs can proceed with more confidence,” he said.

Mr Boland said rural communities have a strong track record of innovative thinking.

“But a rigid planning system prevents them from harnessing their ingenuity and local resources,” he told the conference, held at Dunhill Eco Park, Co Waterford.