PLANS to give the countryside a boost have been greeted as "a step in the right direction" by council leaders in East Lancashire -- but condemned as "a complete damp squib" by a local MP.

The white paper containing the government's proposals, A Fair Deal for Rural England, launched by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has been widely welcomed by rural pressure groups, although some have sounded a note of caution.

Colin Redpath, leader of Ribble Valley Council, said the plans looked "helpful" but he would have to study the details.

Coun Redpath added: "The recognition that the rural communities must not be forgotten is very important. Whether this does enough to balance the bias of the government towards the urban heartlands, we will have to wait and see."

The white paper explains the government's policies for the countryside and includes some areas which will require changes in the law. The main points of the white paper are:

A boost to rural enterprises by giving a 50 per cent cut in business rates.

Removal of 50 per cent rebate on council tax for second homes, with the extra money going towards affordable housing. Incentives to developers to build more affordable housing.

Extra cash for rural public transport and moves to encourage car sharing and dial-a-ride type schemes.

£37 million to rejuvenate market towns.

Expanding services offered through post offices.

A community service fund worth £15 million to re-establish vital services.

£152 million Rural Enterprise Scheme to help farmers diversify into different crops or different businesses.

But Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans said: "There is nothing in this hotch-potch to reinvigorate the countryside. John Prescott doesn't understand the countryside. He doesn't care."

He added that the proposals on market towns would do nothing to help Clitheroe and there was no concrete assistance for rural sub-post offices and warned of a "stealth tax" on second homes.

Pendle councillor Doris Haigh, who represents Earby, said it is "a step in the right direction" but she doubted the white paper could solve the problems.

She said: "It sounds fine on paper but the reality is a lot more stark. I am not sure that the government can do much except for high-falutin words. I think attitudes need to be changed right from nursery age."

Ray Kessler, head of rural policy at the North West Development Agency, said: "We would offer market towns the health check which would look at every conceivable aspect and then develop an action plan.

"If you walk into a market town after 6pm they are usually dead and people have gone home. We want to change them back into the places they were meant to be."

But Pendle Labour backbencher Gordon Prentice defended his government's plans. He said: "This White paper outlines the real rural agenda which will benefit areas such as Pendle."