Meeting predicts service problems (From Evesham Journal)

Meeting predicts service problems

11:41am Thursday 16th October 2008

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THE number of people living in rural England is increasing but so are the problems of providing all the services they need.

The University of Gloucestershire is holding a conference that will look forward 12 years to the point when, if current projections and plans are fulfilled, three million new homes will have been built in England.

The future of England’s rural services will be examined in relation to this.

The conference, called Rural Services 2020: The Challenge of Sustaining Rural Communities, has been organised by the Countryside and Community Research Institute and the Rural Services Network. It will be held on Friday, October 24.

Professor Malcolm Moseley, who will be speaking at the conference, said: “We will be focusing on the future for rural communities and the services on which they rely, such as healthcare, education, leisure, transport and emergency services. The standard of service delivery is key in the rural community and makes a big difference to people’s lives.”

Focusing on service delivery, delegates will be urged to consider what the future shape of rural communities will be in 2020, to review possible changes between now and then and to identify key points which will influence changes. The conference follows the recently published report to the Government on the rural economy and affordable housing which said a shake-up of planning and affordable housing policy was vital to breathe new life and prosperity into rural communities.

The conference will argue the delivery of rural services also needs radical attention.

For more, visit www.ccri.ac.uk.

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