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Report criticises lack of action over "fragile" countryside

03/03/2008

A nationwide coalition of local authorities and public service providers has criticised the government for failing to mend problems faced by rural communities.

A new report from the Rural Services Network – made up of more than 250 organisations – accuses the government of 'breaking its pledge' to the countryside.

Graham Biggs, the network's chief officer, said the government had failed to protect the livelihoods of rural families.

"It has broken its pledge that nobody should be disadvantaged because of where they live," he said.

"We hope that our report will serve as a wake-up call that rural citizens are not prepared to be treated as second class."

The Rural Services Network, which said it was handing its findings to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) on Monday, is calling for affordable housing, sustainable development and youth training policies to be implemented in rural areas.

Mr Biggs continued: "It is unsustainable and iniquitous for people living in rural areas to pay more in council tax whilst receiving less by way of services.

"More than that, as many people look to move from urban areas to rural ones, it is fundamental that the infrastructure is put in place to allow new and existing rural communities to thrive."

A separate report out today from the government's rural watchdog, the Commission for Rural Communities, claims one million people are living in poverty in the countryside.

Commission chairman Stuart Burgess said 928,000 households were living below the official government poverty threshold of £16,492.

"I urge government to develop policies that better reflect the nature of rural disadvantage, targeting people in need, rather than places," he said in his report.