The countryside risks becoming the "exclusive preserve" of the wealthy if the Government scraps its rural watchdog, the Liberal Democrats have warned.

Andrew George, the party's rural spokesman, has urged ministers to retain the body that acts as the "independent voice" for poor communities in the countryside.

The Government intends to shut the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC), which is chaired by Stuart Burgess, who also held the title of Rural Advocate, which has already gone.

Critics say it will be the first time there has not been an independent voice for the countryside since David Lloyd George was Prime Minister.

In a letter to Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman, Mr George warns: "A rural commission should exist to provide independent and objective advice on trends which are emerging in respect of the life and prospects of our rural communities and also represent and advocate on behalf of the weakest of the voices which exist in our rural communities."

The MP for St Ives goes on that without an overseer there will be a continuation of the "inexorable trend of turning our rural communities into the exclusive preserve of the better off".

Rural areas have been suffering from a legacy of the decline of traditional industries and the soaring cost of housing, pushed up by the popularity of holiday homes in areas such as Devon and Cornwall.

The all-party parliamentary group on rural services recently pressed the Prime Minister on claims people living in the country suffer from low pay and pay more council tax, but get less money from Whitehall to fund for transport, education and health.

As an alternative, a Rural Policy Unit has been created inside the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Critics say it will lack independence, and Mr George wants a body akin to the Office for Budget Responsibility, the watchdog for the Treasury.

Mr George said: "There is a strong justification for the retention of an independent rural voice; one which can clearly demonstrate that it is genuinely independent of overt Government influence and control."

While MPs with rural constituencies will champion rural causes in Parliament, he warns of the "relative weakness of the rural voice in contrast with the predominant urban voice which dictates much of the public discourse".

The comments were made in a submission to the formal consultation by the Government into the CRC's closure.

Last week the WMN reported the CRC warning ministers risked "disregarding" the needs of areas such as the far South West.

The CRC has already been reduced to a skeleton of its full strength after being established by Tony Blair to speak up on rural issues.

During the recession, it produced regular reports for then-Environment Secretary Hilary Benn on the impact of the downturn on rural areas.

Critics say the body was largely ignored by the Labour government as post offices closed, fuel tax soared and a housing crisis emerged on its watch.

Ministers insist their plans are more cost-effective and the policy unit will ensure rural issues are top the agenda.

A Defra spokesman said: "We want to make rural areas even better places to live and work and are delivering initiatives worth £165 million to boost the rural economy.

"Defra is best placed to champion the interests of rural communities across Government.

"Ministers receive expert advice from the Rural Communities Policy Unit and have invited rural community and business leaders to share their local priorities, issues and concerns, through new Rural and Farming Networks."