Concerns and opportunities arising from the Brexit vote will continue to dominate East Anglia's rural business landscape in 2017, according to a senior landowners' spokesman.

Major General Sir William Cubitt, of the Honing Estate, near North Walsham, is the Norfolk branch chairman for the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).

He said uncertainties over funding, investment and access to trade and labour markets outside the EU could be balanced by the opportunities to create a bespoke UK policy for food, farming and the environment, free from Brussels' red tape.

And the landowner, who is also the High Sheriff of Norfolk, also said pressure needed to be maintained on wider, well-trodden countryside issues including the need for better broadband connectivity and a crackdown on rural crime.

RURAL POLICY

'In the case of rural businesses, especially farms, in Norfolk, the year has been dominated by the Brexit vote which has set everyone to try to anticipate the future threats and opportunities of being outside the EU in a few years' time,' said Sir William

'The concerns range from the cessation of EU investment in businesses and in research and development, to worries about markets and labour supply. The opportunities include the scope for a new bespoke UK food, farming and environment policy, and reductions in constraints from EU bureaucracy.

'Meanwhile, the prospect is one of uncertainty about all of these things as they are gradually worked out over the next few years. This comes at a difficult time for many rural businesses with prices for their produce generally low, making survival and investing for the future difficult for many.

'Predictability for farmers is helped by the government's commitment to continue the EU investment programmes in agriculture and the farmed environment to 2020. This will help farmers move forward into the uncertain waters of Brexit and help to continue to improve the farmed environment for wildlife on the way to a new food, farming and environment policy.'

BROADBAND

Sir William said the lack of superfast broadband connections in rural Norfolk remained a 'key concern' despite the government's announcement earlier this month that almost half a billion pounds would be invested to connect 600,000 extra homes and businesses in 'hard-to-reach' communities.

He said: 'Coverage of faster broadband has continued to spread across the county, though many rural businesses are in the areas, which are more difficult to reach so have not seen the extent of improvements which most of the population has seen.

'Alternative technologies, including the mobile phone networks, have also improved, which have helped some rural businesses. Nevertheless, despite improvements, the lack of superfast broadband in extensive rural areas remains a key concern.'

CRIME

With countryside crime a continuing concern, Sir William welcomed the rural crime strategy launched by Norfolk police and crime commissioner (PCC) Lorne Green earlier this year, who pledged more police officers in remote areas, and a more collaborative approach between police, farmers and landowners.

Sir William said: 'It (the new strategy) recognises rural crime is a mainstream issue and therefore part of the core business of the police. However, to be effective, the police need the public to engage with them and for those who live and work in the countryside to report information about rural crime.'

What are your farming and rural policy priorities for 2017? Contact chris.hill@archant.co.uk.