THE Rural Services Network has launched a comprehensive call to action for politicians prior to the 2010 general election.

A range of recommendations are included within the network’s manifesto, published on Monday (4 January).

The document was unveiled following a consultation involving more than 250 public and private sector service providers.

It seeks to influence the debate over the future of rural areas for the duration of the next government and beyond.

The manifesto calls on political parties to give a fair deal to those living in rural areas.

Successive governments have continually failed to recognise the difficulty rural people face accessing vital services, it states.

The manifesto focuses on ten key themes:

• Delivering growth to rural economies and communities
• Safeguarding rural schools
• Health and social care in rural areas
• Robust flood defences
• Affordable rural housing
• The digital future in rural communities
• Safe, reliable and affordable transport solutions
• Service provision in rural areas
• Safeguarding and expanding rural proofing
• Overcoming rural fuel poverty

The full document can be downloaded by clicking here (1.64MB pdf file).

Unfair funding formulae meant many rural services received less money than their urban counterparts, said network chairman Roger Begy.

“For too long, metropolitan policy-makers have failed to understand that the needs of the countryside are often very different to those of the city.”

Policy-makers should recognise the costs of providing services across rural areas – particularly during a time of public spending restraint.

“Many services survive on a shoestring, which means that even small cuts can seriously undermine them.”

The countryside was not just a retreat for well-off or retired people. Nor was it – despite the importance of both – only inhabited by farmers and tourists.

“The countryside is a living and working part of Britain, where a diverse range of people go to live, work, and raise a family.

“The value which rural communities bring to the British economy, society, and culture should not be underestimated by anyone.”

The manifesto will be officially presented to political parties at the House of Commons on Wednesday (6 January).

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Planning Portfolio Holder
written by Janet Duncton, May 24, 2010

I sincerely hope that the new Government will speak to and listen to those of us who live, work, and serve rural communities.
There are more than one distinct type of rural community two of which are the rural small market town/large village and then there is the real rural of Hamlets and Villages each distinctly different and many more.
This needs recognition as does the amount we help ourselves and that Public transport is non existant and often not needed. Help could be given to smaller forms of transport.
In the villages that I know there is a lot of self help not waiting for big brother to move in. All they need as usual is a bit of financial help and far less of that than the big bucks spent on useless empty Buses.
Please speak to those of us who live and work in the real rural and yes I am a Farmers wife as well in a new National Park and next to and internationally renowned ancient Nature reserve so we know a bit what were talking about. My Husband is also a County Councillor.

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