Action needed to ensure future of rural communities
Rural communities need help to survive
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Monday, 16, Aug 2010 10:35
by Anna Seward
A coalition of charities, council and planning bodies has called on the government to take steps to ensure rural communities can thrive.
Action is needed to ensure rural areas can meet housing needs, build local economies, deliver services and create flourishing market towns, the groups said.
Otherwise, the countryside could turn into a combination of a "dormitory, theme park and retirement home".
All but the wealthiest of people will be priced out of housing and services could crumble in the face of spending cuts, unless local people are able to improve their areas.
Furthermore, wages will continue to lag behind urban averages by up to 20 per cent.
Town halls and communities should have the freedom to develop innovative ways to solve the rural affordable housing crisis, said the Rural Coalition, which is made up of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), the Local Government Association, Action with Communities in Rural England, the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Town and Country Planning Association.
Councils should be allowed to keep money from selling council homes and local communities should take the lead in creating new neighbourhoods in market towns.
And elected parish councils should be allowed to start small community-led developments to meet local needs.
Lord Taylor of Goss Moor, chairman of the coalition, commented: "We need a fundamental change of approach to give rural communities a more sustainable future."
A spokesman for the Department of Communities and Local Government said: "The government is committed to giving communities the power to protect and preserve rural villages, ensuring the countryside remains a vibrant place to live and isn't allowed to become a museum."