' Do Or Die' Challenge For Rural Communities
2nd September 2010
Britain’s rural villages are at risk of dying
unless radical action is taken to secure their
future, it is being warned. A newly formed Rural
Coalition, made up of leading organisations which
represent rural interests, is calling on the Government
to deliver on its Big Society vision by radically
empowering local people to shape the rural places in
which they live. They are warning that without this
action, rural services face meltdown as spending is
cut, housing will out price all but the wealthiest, and
rural wages will continue to lag as much as 20%
behind urban averages.
The Rural Coalition have published The Rural
Challenge, a report outlining detailed proposals to
give local people, entrepreneurs, community groups
and councils the ability to bring about positive change
that will ensure a thriving future for the countryside.
The report is being billed as a blueprint for delivering
the Big Society in the small places which are at huge
Risk unless action is taken now.
The report sets out detailed propositions for taking on
five key challenges facing the countryside:
• Meeting rural housing needs
• Building thriving economies
• Delivering good rural services
• Creating flourishing market towns
• Empowering local communities
The Rural Coalition, chaired by Lord Taylor of Goss
Moor, believes this can be achieved by letting
communities seize the initiative.
A copy of the report
“The Rural Challenge: achieving sustainable rural
communities for the 21st century’” can be found
at:
http://ruralcommunities.gov.uk/2010/08/16/the_rural_challenge/
