Rural Communities
From Norfolk RCC
State of the Countryside 2007
The Commission for Rural Communities has published the 9th state of the countryside report which aims to be a ‘first call’ for those seeking quantitative information on social, economic and environmental issues in rural areas. It also adds commentary on the information, and on the trends that are emerging. http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/files/socr2007-fullreport.pdf
Previous states of the countryside
- State of the Countryside 2006 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/files/SoTC06_Complete1.pdf
- State of the Countryside 2005 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/files/CRC05-StateoftheCountryside2005-fullreport.pdf
- State of the Countryside 2004 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/files/CA170-StateOfTheCountryside2004fullreport.pdf
Previous reports were published under the countryside agency
Carnegie Commission Calls for New Agenda for Rural Assets and Services
The Carnegie UK Trust's new report calls for more rural communities to take control of their own local assets and services. The Carnegie Commission for Rural Community Development’s report calls for assets ranging from housing, renewable energy supplies and sports clubs to be managed at a local level. The report also calls for a greater role for networks such as rural stress helplines, debt counselling and support groups for older people, which constitute ‘social’ assets.
Launching the Commission’s ‘Charter for Rural Communities’, Commission Chair Dame Diana Brittan said that politicians often suffer from ‘rural blindness’, and that traditional funding streams and planning laws tend to be too urban-focused, despite the differing needs of rural communities.
The Commission, a panel of rural experts including Sir Ben Gill, Jonathon Porritt and Lord Haskins, visited hundreds of communities across the UK, Ireland and beyond to identify what is and is not working rurally. The Commissioners concluded that for rural communities to thrive in the future, they need to be given a greater say in their own affairs and the means to secure successful futures for themselves. This means strengthening local democracy and investing in local communities to enable them to manage and own important local assets and enterprises.
To read more and download the report visit the Carnegie Rural Community Development website. http://rural.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/home
