A FIVE-point action plan unveiled by the Government to revitalise England's rural areas could be too little, too late, say people in west Wiltshire.

Village shops, post offices, farms and market towns are among those said to benefit from measures proposed in the Government's White Paper "A Fair Deal for Rural England", unveiled by deputy prime minister John Prescott last week.

Codford Parish Council chairman Romy Wyeth said the measures were purely cosmetic and the Government did not really understand rural issues.

She said: "The measures for post offices are too late, it is all cosmetic stuff. Why did they not listen a few years ago when everybody was shouting about it? A lot closed and we are not going to get those back.

"And it does not matter how much they give us for rural transport, it will do no good until they make the roads safer."

Cllr Wyeth said the measures were clearly intended to make their mark in the run-up to the next election.

She said: "It has taken this long for them to look at rural communities. The suggestion is they are worried about the rural vote.

"Spending a lot sounds good but in practice doesn't work. Look at the health service. The money has to go to the right places."

The National Federation of Women's Institutes has welcomed the measures but is concerned the Government has not tackled the root causes of rural decay.

Chairman Helen Carey said: "We are disappointed that the Government has not seized the opportunity for a more radical shift in direction. Instead, rural communities face the prospect of being further weakened by social and economic pressures that the Government denies having influence over."