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

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

• Market Towns and villages linked and coordinated by natural geographic, economic and social flows - not district boundaries
• Market Towns and villages working together e.g. local food in local shops / restaurants etc. sharing marketing of tourist assets and developing tourism packages
• Increased awareness of the countryside in towns and cities - needs and  assets
• Recognition of countryside and small attractions - marketing budgets at County and Regional level not just focusing on major towns and assets
• Affordable housing in rural areas
• Remove pay differential in rural areas
• Coordinated links between public / private sector to bring more jobs for young people to rural areas, enabling young people to stay near to roots, families etc
• Increased policing in Market Towns in the evenings
• Improve awareness of rural villages / hamlets in Market Towns
• Improve awareness of rural villages / hamlets in Market Towns
• More awareness of the needs of elderly in the community
• Improve knowledge / access to business development support for farming community and small businesses

Liz Durnell

In the future there will be innovative and visionary use of public space and meeting places such as market towns play an increasingly important role as hubs / meeting places to share ideas in the knowledge economy.

The public realism created will draw on the local materials and vernacular of buildings, local history and heritage.

Redundant and disused buildings and space will be brought back into use for community meeting space, workspace, arts and creative venues. Advances in technology anf the credit crunch, global downturn and environmental changes through climate change will prompt ever more creative an innovative solutions in the materials used and building techniques e.g. affordable housing will draw on examples from Germany and Holland such as modular construction and houses on stlits to overcome flooding.

More people will be able to and choose to work from home through better inter net access and will work more flexibly on a part time and alternative hours basis, placing more importance on family and leisure time.

Food and the quality of food and where it comes from will become a high profile issue - not just for the middle classes - as people feel the impact of climate change they will choose to shop local and buy quality produce.

Zoe Jepson

Derbyshire County Council

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

• Much more power of decision (+ finances) vested in Parish Councils.

• More local food and products available locally. In particular funding invested so that Farmers’ Markets are better able to operate (e.g. cost of road closures)

• A sustainability plan for development conurbations – too much creeping development at present taking place.

• Increasing use and development of local walks and cycle paths and facilities to support them (Look at Napier NZ circular walk)

• Fuller preservation of local historical buildings – culture

• Events

• Rural affordable housing

• Much more power of decision (+ finances) vested in Parish Councils.

• More local food and products available locally. In particular funding invested so that Farmers’ Markets are better able to operate (e.g. cost of road closures)

• A sustainability plan for development conurbations – too much creeping development at present taking place.

• Increasing use and development of local walks and cycle paths and facilities to support them (Look at Napier NZ circular walk)

• Fuller preservation of local historical buildings – culture

• Events

• Rural affordable housing

1) Every village will have a trading Co-operative Trust made up of local residents, businesses, youth, farmers etc

2) Every village will have the ability to produce 90% of the food that its residents need. 5% will be purchased from larger farm stores (e.g. foreign food) 5% will be ‘swapped’ with neighbouring villages that produce a different local crop due to microclimate/geography etc.

3) A percentage of the ‘harvest’ for each village will be sold every week in the village’s local market town.

4) The Co-operative Village Trust will also own business units (maybe ex-barn etc) it will provide free or low rent to local residents’ businesses and be linked by the internet for global trading and advertising the village itself for national and global tourism.

5) Residents will have children at the village school who will all work on the food farm of the village one day a week. Older children will help in the business unit with internet use / trading.

6) Profits from the Co-operative Village Trust will pay for self build affordable village building company to purchase professional skills, land (leases from farmers) and materials.

Guy Braga

Market Towns exploit local distinctiveness. Become sustainable by reducing commuting through more local and diverse employment which in turn adds to buoyancy of the local economy – Local Multiplier 3 (LM3) - local people feel a pride of place. Price of fossil fuels due to ‘Peak Oil’ reduces dependence on car. Therefore each market town relies increasingly on locally sourced food and other products.

‘Out of town’ shopping centres begin to lose their attractiveness as communities flock to town centres.

Travel patterns change astronomically with massive overall reduction in journeys – more linked trips, more use of train, bus, walking, cycling. Less air travel – a ban on domestic flights.

Local traders all club together to provide to a collective ‘on-line’ shop.

Use of plastic bags banned.

Home composting compulsory on households with gardens.

Plastic bags a thing of the past

School run banned for journeys of less than 1 mile

Philip Eden

A vibrant, friendly, inclusive community that is self sufficient in terms of local food and energy production, well connected and is regarded as sustainable by retaining and supporting local businesses, services, education, transport and protecting a high quality environment for residents and visitors alike.

A community that will actively encourage and create opportunities for its residents to take their visions forward and enable them to proactively implement community projects that are planned delivered and owned by its residents – local empowerment and grass-roots development in action.

Mandie Berry