South Downs welcomes £4.8m LEADER funding for rural economy

March 19, 2015

Three local programmes have received funding of almost £5 million to support their work to boost economic growth, create new jobs and improve the quality of life in rural communities in and around the South Downs National Park.

The LEADER programme, announced by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, will provide grants to small businesses, farmers, foresters and communities for projects that create jobs and grow the rural economy. Local people are empowered to identify where and how best this funding is allocated. Funds will be available to apply for from summer 2015 from the relevant Leader programs (see websites below).

The South Downs National Park Authority is a partner in all three Local Action Groups – Fieldfare, the Sussex Downs & Coastal Plain and Central Sussex – which bring together people from local government, business and communities and use their local knowledge to deliver rural development for their areas specific needs and priorities.

Angie Blowman, Sustainable Futures Manager for the South Downs National Park Authority, said:

“These three programmes will help small businesses across a wide area of the National Park and around it. This is a welcome investment in our local communities to create jobs and growth and benefit the rural economy including the farming, tourism and forestry sectors. “

David Webb, Fieldfare Board Chair, said:

“The local rural economy in this part of Hampshire is strongly linked to our high quality landscape and environmental resources. Our strategy has identified five key economies in the area: farming, tourism, local food & drink, forestry and enterprise and we will be using the funding to identify and support projects that focus on jobs and growth.”

David Hurst, Chairman of Central Sussex LAG, said: “LEADER is local people making sure that the money from Brussels goes direct to the grassroots of our countryside.

“Our area stretches from Pulborough in the west to Horsted Keynes in Mid-Sussex and Firle in Lewes district.

“There are thousands of small businesses included there, and not just farmers and foresters.”

He added: “Country people making their own way, often using the products of our area, can get direct help from LEADER to provide local jobs and boost the local economy.”

Norman Dingemans, Deputy Chairman of Sussex Downs and Coastal Plain LAG as well as Vice-Chair of the SDNPA, said: “The last Leader programme was a great success and I am sure this new project will be just as successful in helping new businesses start up and existing businesses grow and create more jobs.”

The break-down of funding is:

£1.6m for Fieldfare – covering the Local Authority designated rural areas within East Hampshire, Eastleigh and Winchester and Havant (excluding Hayling Island)
£1.5m for the Sussex Downs & Coastal Plain LAG – covering rural areas of Chichester District, Arun District and Hayling Island; and
£1.7m for the Central Sussex LAG – covering rural areas of Horsham District, Mid Sussex District and Lewes District.

Find out more about Fieldfare and the LEADER programme www.fieldfareleader.org.uk

Find out more about Sussex Downs & Coastal Plain and Central Sussex Local Action Groups and the LEADER programme by visiting www.westsussex.gov.uk and type ‘LEADER’ in the search box or emailing rdpeleader@westsussex.gov.uk