A STRATEGY put together to guide parts of the North-East into a post-foot-and-mouth disease era is to be unveiled next month.

The North-East Country Landowners and Business Association (CLA) has been working with the regional development agency, One NorthEast, as well as the Countryside Agency, on a document which charts the way ahead for Durham and Northumberland.

"The CLA will be submitting its comments later this month and it is hoped the plan will lead to the transformation of the countryside over the next five years," said regional director Anthony Haslam.

"One of the main recommendations is expected to be the comments made about the planning system.

"We have been fortunate, compared with some areas of the country, in having planning authorities which have been sympathetic to rural areas, but not all our members agree that getting permission to diversify their business base is easy.

"There is no doubt we do need a new approach to what can happen in the countryside in the future if it is to survive."

Meanwhile, the association's Yorkshire branch has welcomed a report by the Environment Agency which recognises the part landowners have played in improving the quality of Britain's riv-ers.

However, spokeswoman Dorothy Fairburn said they could do more if the Government would back new schemes which marry the needs of the environment with those of agriculture.

"The results of the report show land managers are applying successful cultivation measures and nutrient budgeting.

"They have improved river quality as a result and this shows there is an increasing desire by farmers to improve efficiency and deliver the countryside the public wants," she said.

Read more about the foot-and-mouth crisis here.