Government ignoring the needs of rural communities

Government has done little to address the problems that blight rural England despite numerous reports that have highlighted them for years, says a new report by the Rural Services Network.

The RSN, a group made up of service providers such as local councils, says problems include a general decline in basic rural services, such as public transport, and a lack of affordable homes.

As a consequence many rural communities are struggling to deliver a safe, prosperous and healthy quality of life, says the RCN.

Rural proof services

It says that despite a commitment to "rural proof" services - a pledge to ensure policies take account of rural needs - all too often rural policies are tacked on as an afterthought.

The RSN report highlighted the difficulties created by the planning system, which it said often discriminated against rural communities trying to build low-cost housing.

It said local planners were restricted by centrally-imposed principles, such the amount of development that must be built on brownfield land or the need for access to public transport.

The official poverty line

Another report says almost one million rural households in England have an income below the official poverty line.

The government's rural advocate and chair of the commission for rural communities, Stuart Burgess, presented a report to government on Monday (3 March) outlining aspirations, experiences and concerns of people living and working in rural England.