A rural Britain that has rediscovered the importance of the locality. The ability to build a community on shared values, rather than a rural community that measures its ’specialness’ on the quality of the building stone, or £1s per square foot. A balance of work and not just life but really living that taps into the power of collective activity.

I would like to see methodologies that help build common cause in a positive way

Common Bonds

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Collective Actions  Communicate Assets

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Service Provision / Childrens’ Services / Economic Activity

Rural communities that are internally strong and externally engaged and active. In tandem we need vibrant urban communities to equal this vision.

Welcoming, open to change that is sensitive to local needs. Enterprising culture where money is circulated within the local community, whilst seizing opportunities of a global market place. Celebrating local distinctiveness. Building on heritage, whilst developing contemporary culture and economy. Communities where people want to and are able to live, work, invest and visit. Housing that is affordable in perpetuity. Clear links between producers and manufacturers and their consumers to realise maximum benefit for both. Communities that are balanced in composition and where all sectors are valued and have opportunities to help determine the future of their place.

• Seek a balance and inter-dependency between market towns and their hinterlands AND between them and nearby urban areas. Need to improve urban areas if we are not to push more people out of them and into surrounding rural areas

• IT can breakdown barriers and combat rural isolation BUT it may also encourage the development of far flung online communities at the expense of stronger local and businesses – Tesco online is great but can mitigate against local retailers.

• Increased home working is great for rural areas and by minimising commuting is more environmentally sustainable. Just as important is the group of people remaining in the rural area in the daytime – social bonding, local trading and community support

• Young people have always left rural areas for city lights but they return when they ‘settle down’ and start families.

Preserve local amenities – shops, pubs, schools, village halls

Balanced communities of age.

Local green solutions – let people walk & cycle etc

Sensible transport solutions

Connecting whole communities so they can support each other

Limit the scope of the supermarket

Better connections between Towns and Catchment Communities

Less beauracracy

Less air travel

Rupert Dick

UK Villages

Development will be directed by aspirations of residents / businesses through consultations and local plans.

Creating a better balance between housing and employment to reduce commuting

Protecting the environment / energy production and use reduction

Improving the range and quality of local jobs to match the increasing skills of the population

Recognising the role of Market Towns in servicing the needs of rural villages

A true commitment to working in partnership.

Len Turner

Wiltshire Forum of Community Area Partnership

Restoration of Communities

Integration

Harmony

Sense of Pride

Duty of Care

Local Interest / commitment

Respect

Consideration

Time

Empowered local governance

Progressive

Resources

Vitality / vibrancy

Active politicians

Balanced

Safe

Claire Edwards

- Reversal of out commuting

- Maintaining young people in small towns by encouraging business start-ups / enterprises.

- Increased number of academic qualifications for young people on countryside issues; regeneration / widening knowledge and skills base

- Increase and improve local community partnerships, who can shape strategies and revitalise towns from the bottom up

- Increase the number of affordable housing

- Maintain a healthy balance of key attractions, independent stores, regional traders in market towns.

- Encourage local produce / trade

- Increase the number of community events

- Sustainable communities

- Encourage homeworking – money is then spent in local communities, reduces carbon footprint

- Increase leisure facilities

- Ensure villages and towns which are bypassed do not become dormant ‘trade’ towns