Community Led Planning

Access to ICT

+ the Internet

Affordable Homes

Community Enterprise

Environmental Sustainability

Locally Determined Priorities

Community Partnership

Access to Education / Skills

Development

Jeff Tweddle

Northumberland Rural Voices Network

Viable family farms; managed rural countryside

Greater communication to ‘joe public’ as to how farmers achieve this.

Fewer caravans in the rural areas

Increased rail network connections

More public conveniences in good condition

Continuous coastal footpath

Sustainable business for local employees

Greater participation / involvement by ethnic communities

Easy access for disabled people

Sunshine/ flowers / animals/ vibrant colours

Clean and tidy

Community spirit with a future

Sensible planning rules / regulations

Mel Towler

Regional Food Group

Yorkshire and Humber

Sustainable Communities - socially, economically and environmentally

Engaged Communities

• of local communities
• with each other in community
• and outside

True Partnerships

• all levels of public bodies
• with private sector
• shared priorities

Ability to influence investment decisions of national / regional / local bodies

Rural Proofing / Weighting

A more flexible planning system to allow innpvative developments - housing / employment - to create a C21st countryside

Paul Whitaker

1) A viable farming sector being able to utilise redundant farm buildings for new vibrant businesses

2) Planning to use common sense to allow such involvement for the good of, the future employment and long term sustainability of rural areas

3) Affordable housing to be an integral and proud part of village life not seen as dumping grounds for problem urban families or individuals

4) Parking to be thought of as an attraction rather than a deterrent to visitors of market towns

5) Too often parking is seen as a council cash cow without looking at the long term benefits of attracting visitors in.

6) More forward thinking facilities for young people to keep them interested in local towns rather than spending money on ‘iconic’ structures that have not been widely asked for by local people.

7) Bill Langhamer

A rebalanced community achieved by encouraging the young to remain and bring up their families in the area and maintain local primary and secondary schools and create job opportunities. Similar landscape to Yorkshire Dales in Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) gateway to Shropshire Hills

Farming must remain profitable in its own right for landscape to be maintained

To do this we need to be out of Europe and invest what we give to Europe in our society to give a fair return to everyone and create opportunities for all especially rural areas. Rural landscapes are our heritage, its essential to pass them on to the next and future generations, it has taken centuries for them to evolve do not destroy them by bad planning decisions. Green Belt, National Parks and AONBs should be involved in rural planning decisions

J A Gibson

Shropshire County Council & Church Stretton Market Town Partnership

Future Rural Britain will have:

1) Mixed communities made up of people of all ages, with community facilities such as halls, pubs, shops, schools, and churches which are well supported and are centres of village life.

2) A landscape which is cared for by farmers and landowners who are not absent, but value the land for how it looks and what it can be used for.

3) A farming industry which is highly valued by Government and encouraged and funded accordingly.

4) Businesses and industries located in the rural areas which are staffed by people who live locally, supported by local government planning departments who take a realistic view of the rural areas.

Anne Harrison

Many fewer second homes, especially the smaller houses, these can be rented/purchased by local young people. This could mean much less random building where a ‘fast buck’ is the reason for development & not need. Much stronger planning controls

Much more land found to the growing of food crops, which will become essential as oil costs rise and supply declines. In turn new jobs will be created again for young people and in turn will encourage them to stay locally.

More value public transport will become essential as oil/travel costs rise & freedom of movement for many will become reduced especially the remoter rural areas.

In the same view, locally generated power systems will have to become the norm as energy costs rise in the world economy. There could be wind turbines and energy saved from incinerators and biomass – depending on the technology to be used & toxic waste etc

Steve Leatherbarrow

With an aging population, rural villages fins an increased number of elderly becoming isolated.

We need to increase the availability of services such as better transport facilities enabling the able bodied to access services in the Market Towns and using outreach teams to deliver quality services to those less able.

Transport at times suited to local employers to enable those in the hinterland access to employment opportunities. Long term parking in the towns must be provided to encourage small businesses

More work and living units to be made available via changes in local planning.

Planning to be extended to include parishes / towns in the decision making.

A Richardson

Rural and market towns and urban communities more locally focused economically and socially around hubs with retail, services and employment concentrated together as far as possible within walking distance of a majority of residents.

Good practice experience from rural and market town community planning rolled out nationally with large urban areas encouraged to focus locally round health and retail hubs and build more sustainable communities.

Local leadership recognised and encouraged as vital to local community planning and delivery.

Communities, in all areas, increasingly coming together round sustainability in place of the pursuit of wealth.

Camilla Govan

Action for Market Towns

Actions:

• Greater control over ‘land use planning’ including a new planning act restricting the activities of speculators who have no commitment to the countryside and its sustainability
• Relaxation of European rules over what farmers can produce and in what quantities.
• Encourage greater understanding and appreciation of the countryside by young people raised in urban areas.
• Prevention of rural sprawl and occupation of the countryside by commuters and hobby farmers.
• Dispel the view that affordable housing is a ‘cure all’ for rural problems and recognise that initiatives will not fund ‘parochialism’
• Ensure rural jobs are genuinely ‘rural’ and sustainable not just an opportunity to provide cheap floorspace for urban companies in expensive and unsustainable locations.