Building a collective vision of rural Britain

Ros Williams

Andrew Laycock

• Diverse activities on rural land e.g. aerial sports, 4 x 4, BMX, extreme sports
• Wind Farms
• Planning policy changes
• Affordable housing for local people
• Return of Post Offices and village shops
• More cycle and rambling routes
• Educational aspect opportunities
• More frequent Farmers’ Markets
• More awareness of country crafts e.g. thatching, weaving
• Re-open railway stations
• Flooding prevention measures put in place
• Rural pubs - subsidies and grants
• Working from home options
• Broadband expansion
• Increase funding for tourism awareness
• Protection of endangered species

M Roberts

Families with roots in the countryside are still able to let their children grow there and also provide the ways for their children that might choose to leave for the urban environment.

Rural Britain becomes tidier

Ian Dillamore

Leighton Linsdale Town Council

Rural housing for rural people.

More help for farmers for development.

Village help and support for small shops.

Transport in the evenings to and from villages.

The heart of our countryside is our farming people, so lets promote them.

A place that has equal advantages to urban communities with sustainable opportunities for development of the community giving sufficient and appropriate access to housing, jobs and public transport. Providing opportunities for young people to acquire a wide range of skills and knowledge to enable them to have a future in the community and for others to return to it.

Richard Fowler

Future Generations

Every baby born in the town gets a ‘welcome pack’ that encourages - long term - a commitment to the town. They are a ‘Town Citizen’  from the start.

People

Community included in decisions. If they are consulted they will be concerned and committed.

Tourism

Develop our USP (a quintessential English Market Town) and get people to use the town as a base.

Vision

Joined up partnerships working on long term vision.

Facilities

So we can choose not to travel out of town for cinema etc

Economy

Independent traders supported to become proactive and responsible for the town they trade in

Chris Stewart

• A place to live, work and play for all ages
• A public transport service that equals provision in urban areas
• A place where services and amenities are valued and where they are not under constant threat of closure
• Investing in our heritage for future prosperity
• Space to breathe

Economically sustainable Market Towns brought about by communities working with their local authorities, government agencies and other partners, to identify where improvements and opportunities can be made and built on.

It should be a place where people can both work, live , visit and invest. A place that can offer jobs, affordable housing for those that work there and wish to live there. A place where the community can shop, without having to travel miles, with good local services. It should build on its heritage and its uniqueness which will hopefully encourage visitors and therefore lead to spending in the town.

It should also be a place where people are proud to live, a place with real community spirit and with a sense of belonging. It will be a diverse community, not just a place for rich commuters and the retired but a thriving mixed demographic that will continue to be sustainable.

Sarah Chalmers

Market Towns

More jobs for people - less commuting

Greater range of jobs with new technologies coming into play. Develop enterprising approaches. Better involvement of business people in schools so young people can get a feel for opportunities for careers in their towns.

More activities and better awareness of existing activities to build social and community cohesion.

Build on distinctiveness - each town is different - work on developing strengths through environment and heritage  as well as social and community activity and action.

Develop a belief in quality - do the best at whatever you do; but do it differently if you can.

‘Exploit’ local assets - make what you have work for you. This could include environmental heritage or social assets. Consider new ways of using them. Do it well, do it differently, make it last - but do something rather than resting on your laurels

Mark Firth