Spending on countryside to rise by a third

31 July 1998

Spending on countryside to rise by a third

SPENDING on conservation, development, access and recreation in the countryside will increase by a third to £174 million over the next three years, said Michael Meacher, the environment minister.

The agency to be formed by merging the Countryside Commission with the Rural Development Corporation will get almost £9m more next year to strengthen its work in conserving the landscape and supporting rural communities.

English Nature will get £6m extra, the National Parks and Broads Authority £2m, and the National Forest Company £600,000.

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  Financial Times 31/07/98 page 9