Rural voters feeling marginalised

Rural Britain has suffered losses in both farming and tourism as a result of the foot-and-mouth epidemic

By CNN's Diana Muriel

NORTH YORKSHIRE, England (CNN) -- As the British prepare to vote for a new government on Thursday, one part of the electorate -- those who live in rural communities -- are feeling increasingly marginalised.

Still reeling from the effects of the ongoing foot-and-mouth epidemic that has decimated both the farming and tourism industries, rural Britain also has suffered a steady decline in the provision of services such as policing, transport and education.

But people here complain that nobody cares -- including the government.

"To a large degree the bulk of the country, in towns and cities -- they have no idea at all what's going on in the countryside, they have no comprehension of how much it's affected life and businesses in the country," says gift shop owner Michael Orrell.

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Orrell has lost 75 percent of his business since the foot-and-mouth epidemic began in February. Like many others, he is struggling to hold on.

Alan Boatwright runs a small hotel nearby. Born and raised here, his business has been devastated by the crisis, he says -- adding that Britain's countryside faces wider problems.

"People in most rural areas are very angry," Boatwright says. "We are a long way from everywhere, and as time goes on things are taken farther away from us."

In one village, almost every house has been burgled in recent years -- a result, say residents, of the closure of a local police station.

In response, North Yorkshire Police are introducing a mobile police station. But there are no plans to add bobbies on the beat.

"It enables us to spread the limited resources that we've got just that bit better," says Sgt. Peter Perkins of the North Yorkshire Police. "People were used to seeing a police officer in every village, and that just doesn't happen anymore unfortunately."

For some, the strain of living and working in the countryside has become too much. Boatwright is selling his property -- and many farmers hit by foot-and-mouth are giving up. Many here say farmers just don't matter to Britain's Labour government.

"We're only 3 percent (of the electorate) so I don't think Mr. Blair is particularly bothered that that is going to make any difference to him getting into government again," said North Yorkshire farmer Chris Hall.

Rural Britain is a largely Conservative constituency to the centre-right of the political spectrum. But the current government is likely to be returned to power at this general election -- leaving many in the countryside feeling marginalised and wondering if their vote really counts.