Together we can, together we will: analysis of consultation responses

Infrastructure: Additional illustrative quotes

Evidence suggests that rural people often do lack services that would be more readily available in urban locations (high speed, reliable broadband, a range of childcare) and that this may ‘hold them back’ from fully participating in society and employment opportunities. In many communities the response has been for local community and third sector groups to provide these services but not all rural places have this option as local people lack the necessary resources and capacity.
Scotland’s Rural College

Services are becoming increasingly centralised … Bank closures are particularly damaging due to poor broadband services and negative impact this has on businesses but also on day to day lives. The lack of employment opportunities often forces people to seek employment in urban areas, however the lack of rural childcare and transport causes them severe issues and can even result in people moving away from rural communities. … Rural communities are losing many valuable young families which then has knock on effects on school closures and increasingly ageing rural populations.
National Farmers Union

Bus, ferries and flight timetables should be designed to complement each other and be fit for purpose for inter islands and off islands travel. … Infrequent seasonal transport is still a problem for many island residents.
Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership

Those relying on ferries appreciate when bus and train timetables synchronise allowing for onward travel so communication and coordination between providers is encouraged.
Scottish Land and Estates

For doctors, etc. appointments, I must take substantial time out of work to fit in with the current service and transport. … Why would I want to continue trying to bring up children here? The economy should be working to my (community's) benefit not an end in itself.
Individual

The High Streets as we know them are no longer for purpose (pure retail), we need to have a focus on them as attractive areas to live in, to meet as a community and to cater for those of an older age group who have disposable incomes to spend – easy access, places to sit, good customer focus and attention would all make a difference. Can we waive rates for community groups/starter businesses that want to reinvigorate the High Street?
Name withheld (Organisation)

In rural areas where the tourism industry is especially strong, it is vital that infrastructure and amenities – including accommodation, car parks, toilet facilities, retail, roads and public transport – keep pace with growth in visitor numbers to support consolidation and further expansion. Some attractions and communities have reached peak capacity, hampering their ability to achieve additional growth, such as Skye.
Name withheld (Organisation)

If rural businesses are to communicate with and share business with urban centres, they MUST get better developed Broadband and Connectivity; we still lag behind similar countries in rural network.
National Sheep Association

Why should we fall behind urban areas because they have high speed broadband? At the moment some days our broadband is so bad, 2 miles from the City boundary of Dundee, that I go and work from the cafe in nearby Tescos. We are losing over the phone sales when the broadband cuts out and you are in the middle of a transaction.
Individual

The bottom line is we need the digital infrastructure to facilitate video conferencing and live video feeds. Top class digital connectivity is a precondition to economic growth in rural regions and it is integral to developing the networks of advice and support, which can help our communities to realise their potential.
South of Scotland Alliance

We support a place-based approach to address the diversity of needs between different rural areas. This would need to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including the public sector and third sectors.
Name withheld (Organisation)

Affordable housing in rural areas is so rare that young people have to leave. This is partly down to planning policy which is preventing [affordable] houses being built.
Scottish Crofting Federation

A flexible and enabling planning system that is fit for purpose in a rural context is crucial to combatting inequality. There is a need to ensure planning is not a barrier to economic growth but an enabler of sensitive development. A well-resourced local authority would be well placed to understand its rural areas and implement appropriate local policies to contribute to the reduction in inequalities. At this scale there should be scope for a long-term vision and strategy.
Scottish Land and Estates

Legislation which is more flexible and which allows multi-focused businesses to trade safely and flexibly is a key element that can help rural businesses [...] Repealing the 24-hour contract exemption to the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 Section 22.1(c) is likely to seriously diminish the ability of the Shetland tourism industry to provide transport services…
Name withheld (Organisation)

The whole debate around short-term letting where our sector is being unfairly targeted – mainly in urban settings, but with implications and knock-on in rural areas as steps may be taken to limit/regulate peer-to-peer activity.
Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers

Lots of policies and their counterpart actions diverge at the point of bureaucracy. Fine words get bogged down in rules that stifle any attempt to support the target. Actually becoming an enabling agency rather than a rule-making agency would enhance the civil service image.
Individual

No protection of local housing which gets sold on the open market at prices outwith the reach of local people.
Scottish Crofting Federation

We are a low-density economy with a low population across a large area. Current planning processes etc. are sub-standard through application of a traditional market-led economy.
DG LEADER LAG

The public sector could also stimulate rural economic growth in its procurement practices by supporting local businesses by local-sourcing of products and services, such as food supplies for public institutions.
Food and Drink Federation

The fewer roads available in rural areas mean that travel arrangements are disproportionately affected by maintenance, accidents, landslips, snow and flooding or other events. This has effect not only on people, but services and goods provided.
Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership

The current policy of a minimum of 3ha as being a farm further ignores many small land-based businesses [which are] excluded from being supported in providing societal and environmental services, while much larger farms can draw down enormous amounts. … It would be great if the smaller businesses without the financial access to consultants could also successfully apply for these grants in the future.
Individual

Small business Bonus Scheme needs to continue.
Individual

Lack of funds [creates] a no 'can do' attitude from the agencies that are meant to help.
Individual

Need our public sector agencies to be less cautious and risk averse, not be afraid of implementing radical policies to drive change. e.g. Italian government allows farmers to earn 65,000 euros tax free if providing a food experience on farms i.e. farm restaurant.
Individual

Better guidance through the many processes currently in use is required to assist businesses through the regulation requirements […] a more proactive, open minded approach.
DG LEADER LAG

Crofters are helped with the Croft House Grant Scheme which historically has been shown to be the most effective use of public money in provision of rural housing. The loan element of the scheme needs to be reinstated as it is not possible to raise a commercial loan on croft land.
Scottish Crofting Federation

There is business support available for tourism businesses, with Digital Tourism Scotland rolling out a useful programme currently.
Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers

GrowBiz […] is much more locally-based and locally-tailored and therefore more appropriate for the needs of its client base. It is worth exploring the potential for this kind of business support model to be rolled out to rural areas elsewhere in Scotland and the potential for the new South of Scotland Economic Partnership/Agency to learn from this community-based approach.
Scotland’s Rural College

WES supports the successful ‘GrowBiz’ model which is proven to work very well for women in enterprise. Using a mix of ‘traditional’ and ‘smart’ support methods for businesses, GrowBiz has proven to be an excellent model of support for rural businesses.
Women’s Enterprise

Rural Leader has made a huge difference to Rural Scotland, with many social and economic projects supported, like the Aberfeldy Workshop in the NRCA paper. The recent parliamentary debate highlighted the scheme well with MSPs illustrating the range of successful projects, many tourism related.
Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers

Rural Leader has demonstrated an appetite for Rural Development, and the benefit of public money match funding projects to get them up and running. Many projects would not have happened without the assistance of Rural Leader, or taken much longer to get going. A replacement for Rural Leader is essential as it benefits the rural economy in immediately tangible ways.
Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers

The loss of EU funding needs to be replaced by Scottish Government grants to ensure that … communities might develop, flourish and retain working age people.
Name withheld (Organisation)

EU Transnational programmes such as INTERREG, ERASMUS and HORIZON used to be ideal for exchanging best practice and replication of successful ideas, across the EU, and if this type of territorial cooperation is to cease, an alternative programme could be implemented at Scottish and UK level.
Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership

The loss of EU funds will leave a funding and policy vacuum which UK governments must fill [...] This goes beyond financial loss. It covers strategic planning, multiannual programming and multi-level governance. Regional targeting has to be maintained in successor programmes if regional economic disparities are to be addressed and opportunities maximised.
North Ayrshire Council

There is a need to replace the current EU funding packages available to coastal activities ( EMFF) and onshore ( LEADER/ SRDP) with more appropriately targeted publicly funded grants maintaining the theme of sustainable development. Grants should be targeted to SMEs to assist new starts as well as established enterprises.
Name withheld (Organisation)