I was born in rural North Norfolk 72 years ago and despite the war years enjoyed a wonderful, free childhood. Based on my lifelong experiences I would like to make the following comments in no particular order of importance.

1)    Maintain and encourage agriculture in such a way that it is productive of healthy food and is environmentally friendly.

2)    Taking my first comment into account give strong support to improving the habitats to our indigenous fauna and flora.  Neglect of that which is now common may result in it becoming endangered.

3)    Make it possible for the native country folk to live and work in the area  in which they were born.

4)    Support tourism and leisure activities in such a way that they are not harmful to the aims of any of my other comments.

5)    Encourage green energy programmes and don’t tolerate NIMBYism.

6)    Currently Central Government refuses to assist coastal District and Borough Councils from being able to execise controls over personal water craft(PWC) owners (jetskiers).  When I was a District Councillor for North Norfolk I worked for 8 years to try to introduce such measures.  Because of my insistence a working party was formed of which I was chairman.  The efforts of this working party were nobly supported by the Council’s Legal Department and the Coastal Issues Forum of which I was also Chairman for 4 years.  However, despite our efforts, none of the suggestions for bylaws, regulations etc that we submitted to Central Government were ever accepted.

The result of this, of course, is that a small percentage of jetskiers feel that they can “ play peacock” and “exhibit” their skills on bathing beaches, in waters near bird reserves and so on with a total disregard for people’s or wildlife’s need for a lack of disturbance.  I know that this issue caused great concern for the Warden at Blakeney Point National Trust Reserve that is home to one of the UK’s most important Tern nesting areas.  Funnily enough, in today’s Eastern Daily Press there is a report that the District Council only yesterday debated on how they were going to deal with the latest problems concerning this issue that has been brought to their attention by the frustrated public.

Simon, if Rural Britain:  a 2020 vision, could resolve that little problem, preferably before 2020, many people from many walks of life would be most grateful.

I congratulate you on your efforts so far.  May there be strength to the collective arm!

Dan Corbett

Safe community making best use of land offering something for all, security for children and the elderly, housing that is affordable to local people, housing for commuters who work outside the area.

Making our town the best town ensuring that it develops in such a way that it offers something for the tourists and ultimately for the shop owners, pub pubs and cafes.

Environmentally friendly, use our energy wisely.

Bring back the countryside to the country.

Put the wind farms where they will not cause distress and upset for local residents but don’t push them away. You don’t want a massive power plant next door to you.

Offer sport for all, all weather pitches that make best use of land and can be used 7 days a week for most sports.

The community can deliver this.

Colin Phillips

IN

• No tax on green profits
• No interest on green grants / loans
• Real Micro power
• Marketing in government
• Pay people to plant trees
• Electric buses on micro roads
• Circles
• Perfect links
• Homes
• Monthly community meetings
• History

OUT

• Green fascists
• No subsidy for green projects (especially continuous)
• Macro management
• Manipulation in government (spin)
• People who chop down trees
• Conventional power
• Flow based systems
• Manufactured links
• Assets
• Rush / panic / demand
• Rubbish innovation

David Morgan

In no particular order:

1. Green public transport for outlying rural areas

2. Developed, local produce bartering systems

3. Sustainable rural housing which is affordable and of low visual impact but innovative, exploiting off-grid,  renewable / sustainable energy, waste and local produce systems.

4. Halt destruction of local heritage features including those less visible e.g. prehistoric burial mounds and archaeological sites (under plough).

5. Better understanding and interpretation of heritage assets including the archaeological

6. Local hubs e.g. market towns with developed partnership working and vibrancy which makes all population sectors feel included e.g. teens, elderly and families with few family ties.

7. Better developed arts partnerships / activities

8. Eased planning restrictions on home working

Judy Bell

Lindsey Action Zone

To have affordable zero carbon emission transport available - both cars and public transport.

To have free wireless internet connectivity everywhere

To have no fox, deer or hare hunting

To have clean rivers

To have renewable, zero carbon energy resources but not nuclear power

To have low food miles making up the majority of food shopping

To have local health care

To have local affordable housing for those who need support in their old age or otherwise

To have peace

Simon Duncan

Creation of a rural hub around a vibrant Market Town, by the use of structured sustainable transport initiatives, run on locally produced bio diesel and environmental produced initiatives (e.g. wind forms, wave power) meet the challenge of NIMBY-ism

Pay back for the rural ares by incentivising local food production and local food sales. e,g 10% return on gross to local community.

Support for homeworking and improved infrastructure of broadband in rural communities.

Adopt a rural community and promote through urban / district / regional initiatives.

Ivan Fuller

Bourne town Centre Manager

Thriving rural communities with all generations being able to live, work and access all services that enable them to live fruitful and comfortable lives in an affordable manner.

Carbon neutral communities, able to generate and source their own produce and energy for homes.

Pemmy Altham

Rural community Action Nottinghamshire

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

• people power
• vitality
• sunshine
• celebration of heritage / buildings / customs/ language
• renewable energy for local use - water / wind
• information
• innovative solutions for problems
• local communication
• keep large town / city / county councils out of decision making - local solutions for local problems
• one off housing where needed and wanted - no new estates
• diversity of business
• good public transport and new transport ideas
• money for power saving (not cavity wall insulation when there are no cavities to fill)
• money for all weather tourist attractions
• local services no 50 miles away
• jobs for local graduates to return to their roots
• no pollution

Ann Sandell

Massive reduction in CO2 emissions

Community-owned renewable energy much more prevalent. Devolved power generation too.

Economy and employment boosted by green enterprises (including as above)

Local food - grown and produced and consumed locally. Growth of community - supported agriculture. Organic food increases.

A mix of affordable housing to meet local needs in perpetuity including provided by local community land trusts

Overall, more viable, more self-sufficient local communities

Reduced use of fossil fuels for transportation including personal transport. Greater take-up of electric cycles. Horses to provide transport and other services rather than fossil-fuelled transport.

Fundamental take-up of transition movement and spread of same.

Vibrant communities which retain young people.

Dave Thomlinson

Light Foot Enterprises