Young people 'being forced into countryside exodus'
Government told it must do more for young people in rural communities
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Thursday, 04, Mar 2010 04:15
By Sarah Garrod.
There are concerns the future of the countryside could be at risk because young people are unable to find jobs or afford homes in rural areas.
The government will today be told by their rural advocate, Dr Stuart Burgess, that evidence he has gathered about rural communities paints a worrying picture for the future of the British countryside.
In a report being delivered directly to the prime minister, Dr Burgess says: "Wherever I go, I hear deep concerns - that challenges with housing, work, transport, training and social exclusion are preventing young people from living in the countryside.
"Without young people to provide a work force, rural economies are unable to fulfil their full potential and rural communities can go into a decline."
In the report he found that a lack of broadband and mobile phone coverage in many rural areas was damaging for young people and businesses. As well as the report, the Commission for Rural Communities, which Dr Burgess chairs, will publish a 'State of the countryside' update, setting out the statistical facts of rural life for children and young people, including the current rate of outward migration.
"My clear message is that challenges for rural young people need addressing positively and urgently and that failure to act will put the future viability of our rural communities at risk," Dr Burgess added.
Today's report puts forward the following suggestions for change:
- flexible planning to create more affordable rural housing
- new ways to meet employment and training needs in more isolated areas
- greater efforts by schools and universities to raise young people's aspirations
- a renewed focus on providing integrated public transport
- a push to improve mobile phone coverage and broadband services in rural areas
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