21.07.2021

Launch of Revitalising Rural

As you may be aware, more than nine million people live in England’s rural areas – more than in Greater London - and yet rural communities are rarely a focus of Government decision-making. As the later part of 2021 is likely to centre on the country’s collective recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, we believe it is crucial that rural economies are supported to contribute to this process.

The Revitalising Rural campaign is intended to set out the opportunities, challenges and solutions relevant to people living outside major cities in England. We have arranged this event to identify and discuss the policies and initiatives which would help rural areas realise their full potential if implemented by this Government. In particular, the event will have three sessions focusing on:

THE RURAL TRANSPORT NETWORK, 10.15 – 10.55am
BUILDING AFFORDABLE RURAL HOUSING, 11.05 – 11.45am
CREATING A THRIVING RURAL ECONOMY, 11.55 – 12.45pm

A copy of the invitation for this event can be downloaded here

Launch agenda:

Introduction from Rt Hon Philip Dunne MP, Chair of Environmental

Philip Dunne has been Member of Parliament for Ludlow since 2005. He is Chairman of the Environmental Audit Committee. He served as Minister for Defence Procurement from 2012-2016 and as Minister of State for Health from 2016-2018. As Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Rural Services, he seeks to help raise the profile of rural issues in Parliament

Chair of Rural Transport Session - Rob Butler MP

Rob Butler MP was elected in 2019 and currently serves on the Justice Committee. He previously worked as a TV news presenter and reporter, first at the BBC then Channel 5. He has also worked as a communications consultant, working with large and small companies around the world. He represents a constituency with rural areas and states that he understands the issues that matter for rural communities, rural transport and access to services, the need for vibrant high streets and thriving villages, for good roads, accessible healthcare and the preservation of the countryside.

Witnesses

John Birtwistle, First Group
Keith Little, Cabinet Member responsible for transport, Cumbria Council
Bill Freeman, Community Transport Association (CTA)

- You can download the witness’s biographies here

Chair of Rural Affordable Housing Session – Ed Buscall, Chairman of Hastoe Group

Ed is an arable farmer based in Norfolk. He is a parish councillor and has been involved in a number of schemes to regenerate the local area. Before becoming a farmer, Ed worked for the BBC World Service as Head of Current Affairs. He now works for the BBC Trust as an editorial adviser.

Witnesses

Lord Best, Chair of Affordable Housing Commission
Monica Burns, National Housing Federation

- You can download the witness’s biographies here

Chair of Thriving Rural Economy Session – Lord Foster

Don was the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Bath from 1992 until his retirement in 2015 when he moved to live in a very rural part of Suffolk. During his time in the House of Commons he served on numerous committees including the Select Committee on Education.

As well as serving as his party’s spokesman on a range of issues he was a government Minister in the Department for Communities and Local Government and government deputy chief whip.

He now sits in the House of Lords where he recently chaired the Select Committee on “The Rural Economy” whose report, “Time for a strategy for the rural economy” was published on 27th April 2019.

Witnesses

Nigel Wilcock, Executive Director, Institute of Economic Development (IED)
Professor Jeremy Phillipson, NICRE
Richard Wainer, Policy and Public Affairs Director, Networks, BT Group
Jessie Hamshar, Strategy & Engagement Service Director at Cornwall Council and Strategic Director at Britain’s Leading Edge

- You can download the witness’s biographies here

Phillip Dunne MP as Chair of the overall Launch

What is the Revitalising Rural Campaign?

Revitalising Rural; Realising the Vision is a campaign launched by the Rural Services Network, and developed in consultation with their wide membership across rural areas from national organisations to rural local authorities and all the way down to Parish Councils. It sets out the key areas where the Government needs to take action to ensure that rural areas are not disadvantaged and left behind.

The campaign is split into 14 key policy areas and for each of these, the Rural Services Network has articulated a number of asks of Government. These asks can be seen here

For more information about the campaign and the full documents visit www.rsnonline.org.uk/revitalising-rural