Countryside Alliance: Britain needs a 'living and working countryside'
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Tuesday, 17, Jul 2007 12:00
The Countryside Alliance has praised the State of the Countryside 2007 Report* for highlighting the growing threat facing rural communities due to the decreasing number of young people. The report acknowledges the vital contributions that young people make to rural communities across Britain, and examines the reasons why so many are choosing to move from their rural roots into more urban areas.
There are nearly 400,000 fewer young people aged between 15 and 29 in rural areas than 20 years ago, and the lack of opportunities and affordable housing are highlighted as the key reasons why.
According to the report, the average rural house price in 2006 was 22.1% higher than the average house in an urban area. This discrepancy, combined with a lack of business prospects in rural areas, means that the stability of rural Britain is under great threat. While the number of young people in rural areas in decreasing, the number of older residents is increasing, meaning that already-reduced public services face an even greater strain.
Simon Hart, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance said: “The observations of this report highlight a very worrying trend in the countryside. Young people need to be encouraged to work and live within the countryside, and this means that affordable housing must be a priority for the Government.
Rural areas should offer the same wealth of opportunity as urban areas, and the discrepancy between the two must be addressed. Many young people want to remain within the countryside but are unable to because of the lack of affordable housing and poor business opportunities. Both problems go hand in hand and must be dealt with before rural Britain becomes an exclusive playground for only the wealthy and the retired.”
*State of the Countryside 2007 is published by the Commission for Rural Communities, and is available at http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/files/socr2007-fullreport.pdf
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