‘Harsh reality’ of country life in ‘terminal decline’
Poor families in rural areas are missing out on the health, education and employment services that urban residents take for granted, with village life in ‘terminal decline’, according to two new reports.
Primary healthcare, continuing education, childcare and jobs all make the list of opportunities bypassing many poorer families, according to a report published by the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC).
Peace and quiet disadvantage: insights from users and providers of children’s centres in rural communities reveals that, while the countryside is widely believed to provide a safe and healthy environment, for parents lacking jobs and transport the realities of day-to-day living can be ‘extremely harsh’.
Sarah McAdam, CRC chief executive, said: ‘For many children and young people, the idyll of living in the countryside is far from the reality. Their remoteness from essential services is often made worse because of limited access to transport and the hidden disadvantages which affect poorer families.’
According to the report, chronic health problems were reported among nearly half of workless families in rural areas.
Those living in smaller villages said public transport was ‘expensive’ and ‘hopelessly inadequate’, with some having to resort to costly taxis for shopping trips due to lack of bus routes and services.
Elsewhere the study found in families with no one in work, half of the parents wanted help to gain qualifications and support to find employment, while others wished to work shifts but could not find suitable childcare.
Report author and chief executive of Capacity, which carried out the research for CRC, Margaret Lochrie, said: ‘If these problems are to be tackled successfully, rural poverty needs to be given more priority and change is needed across a broad range of areas of public service delivery.’
The report acknowldedged Sure Start Children’s Centres were doing ‘all that they could’ to support those fmost in need, but the recession is creating extra hardship.
Results from the second, separate poll, also published this week, claim village life is in ‘terminal decline’ with families becoming priced out of rural areas by an influx of wealthy commuters and second homeowners.
The ICM survey, commissioned by the National Housing Federation, found that 45% of people living in rural areas had seen the number of shops, schools and pubs in their village or market town diminish in the last five years.
It also found that more than 60% of rural dwellers believe there is a shortage of affordable housing, while a sizeable majority believes the government cares more about issues affecting people living in towns and cities than those in the countryside.
Federation chief executive David Orr said: ‘Until local authorities begin to properly assess the true extent of rural housing need, at village level, and draw up action plans to deliver the new homes so desperately needed, there’s a very real danger that traditional village life will disappear.’
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