My vision for 2020 is a country where broadband (real broadband of up to a gig) is available for all who want it. This is the only way forward, rural people having the same access to ICT as the urban people. The carbon footprint would be reduced as people can continue to live and work in the countryside. Without communication this is not possible and youngsters leave to work in the cities.
The incumbent (BT) is wringing revenue out of an obsolete copper network and instead of re-investing it pays fatcats and dividends. The govt needs to wake up and force it to deliver what it promises, instead of believing that this country has broadband. It doesn’t. The cities may have it but market towns and villages are lagging far behind as they are not economic. We need to light the fibre, everywhere, no matter what it costs. Broadband (min 100meg) is a utiility, and should be available for all.

Chris Conder

• 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

Cycleways from hamlets to towns. This would:

• improve fitness
• save on car journeys
• children would find it easier to get to clubs etc by themselves

Community centres for small villages and hamlets could provide, shop / pub / childcare etc; all is possible with the help of willing volunteers.

Local transport running regularly. If reliable would encourage people to travel by public transport.

Broadband connection to ALL rural communities to help with working from home; would also make home study attainable.

If each hamlet could encourage a farmer to give a little land for affordable housing, homes would be available for local people. However local councils need to be encouraged to give planning permission and not turn it down due to poor public transport.

Jean Pearson

City of Ely Perspective

Local Autonomy - we know best

Farming: Don’t turn barns into holiday homes, use to grow food i.e. mushrooms; give grants to encourage new crops / animals, wild boars on moors etc, allowing for climate change vineyards

Fund renewable energy in all forms e.g. wave power

Only allow purchase of village houses to local community if new sale

Broadband connection everywhere

Peripatetic services such as health

Transport - improve all public transport and community transport

Mobile education schemes for country skills i.e. drystone walling, training in all new and old skills required for sustainability

Shirley Heselton

IT

Broadband available everywhere. Greater engagement with local democracy – more power to Parish Councils to deliver in partnership with others.

Transport / Travel

Improved public transport – good rail and bus connections to reduce dependence on cars and need for increasing car parking; also car sharing, cycle routes etc

Housing

Affordable housing where there is employment

- development of sustainable communities

- some rural communities which developed in the past to serve a purpose which is no longer there will have to cease to exist.

Education

Free school transport post 16 to encourage longer education without increased use of cars to schools by our 17 year olds

Better opportunities for further education in Market Tows

Tourism

Welcoming visitors to maintain the local economy for residents e.g events, markets, cultural activities thriving

T Beevor

Accessible transport network, with public services that meet demand, strong community spirit

Vibrant cultural attractions, creativity

No rural poverty, isolation of elderly

Modern facilities, good shops

Protected landscape, wildlife

Activities for young people

Key service provision, IT broadband options

Higher wages, improved GVA

Affordable homes for local people

Attractive towns, maintain heritage

Good health services

E Sudlow

Village primary schools – greater use of IT/broadband should allow more schools to be kept open. The village school is one of the keys to good community spirit.

Buildings

“We shape our buildings therefore they shape us”

W.S Churchill c1943

The quality of the village buildings should reflect the local materials.

Other buildings that are important:-

Village Hall

Church / Chapel etc

Shop / Post Office

Pub

The closure of rural Post Offices is detrimental to rural businesses. Although many more transactions can be carried out over the internet there is still a need for the facilities the Post Office can offer. A non-denominational village hall can serve a wide range of needs from social activities, art & craft clubs, flower clubs, play groups etc

Jacqui Marsh

By 2020 I would envisage rural Britain to be almost entirely connected by broadband & internet technologies. The culture and mindset of communities would have embraced both new and traditional forms of community engagement. These methods would work in parallel, providing auditable systems, systems that not only those affected can embrace & contribute to. These systems could also connect to differing communities to learn from each other. Communities would minimise the “do once” mentality.

In summary traditional forms of community engagement will have moved on considerably, improving and empowering those ultimately affected.

Rob Mannion

Maintain villages and interconnecting access of roads, railways and canals (where applicable) – encourage coops, farmers’ markets, local businesses to involve themselves in good interaction. Transport links will become viable with improved technology and the use of broadband. Small businesses will be set up and increased employment opportunities will result, decreasing the need to commute vast distances to and from work.

Schools to be coordinated, so access is available in the same way for even the remotest areas.

Increase recreational facilities – walks, water activities, wildlife centres and SSIs. Encourage knowledge of the importance of wildlife, global warming effects, respect for rural areas in all ways. Encourage people to join all kinds of local activities and support their locality.

Improved access to Market Towns for shopping, recreation and education – also health facilities improved.

Margaret Killin

Driffield Town Council

• A working public transport system: reliable, cheap and green buses and trams

• Farmers paid a fair wage / fee for their produce

• Affordable housing in villages and rural Britain

• Experimentation with new initiatives such as

Community Land Trusts

Community Investment Offerings

• Community Assets and Anchors – everywhere

• More Community Energy schemes – windpower, Archimedes screws – to enable the generation of power and the creation of revenue

• Thriving Post Offices. Shops that open longer.

• Free broadband everywhere

• Opportunities and variety of education and training for young people

• More plastic-bag free towns because of a national ban!

Jamie Veitch