If rural areas are to ever to be able to present their balanced  view on important issues as they arise a rural panel is badly needed.  We envisage a panel of some 300 people representing a balanced cross section of social range, age groups, and employment status is desirable.

Such a panel is felt possible given the depth and breadth of our network contacts but it would obviously require more detailed work both in terms of establishment and maintenance. The cost of running it would therefore be in the region of £7,000 a year.  However it might potentially generate some income from such a venture.