The Countryside Agency's latest State of the Countryside 2002 report paints a picture of relative stability for rural England, but a number of key problems, particularly a lack of affordable rural housing, face its inhabitants.
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Rural communities threatened as homes become less affordable - 28 May 2002

The latest State of the Countryside 2002 report published today (28 May) paints a picture of relative stability for rural England but a number of key problems face its inhabitants. The most pressing problem is the pressure on housing with rural homes becoming less affordable.

For the first time, in this 2002 report, the Countryside Agency has developed a 'mortgage index' which shows that in seven out of eight English regions rural homes are much less affordable than in urban areas. The index uses average earnings, average house prices and standard mortgage application rules to assess the affordability of homes. The south east and south west have particularly acute problems.

Countryside Agency chairman and rural advocate, Ewen Cameron says: "Our new report contains a wealth of analysis and facts to guide policy makers and decision takers. What gives me most cause for concern, is the cost of housing. 

"We have been highlighting for some time the lack of affordable homes in rural England. The figures confirm that a significantly higher proportion of rural people (57%) would have to commit more than half their income to mortgage costs - nearly double that of urban residents (32%). This is a major hurdle for new households and those on less than average wages. Taken alongside the much lower availability of rural social housing, with only 14% public or social rented housing compared to 23% in urban areas, the countryside could become the preserve of the wealthy, threatening the whole nature of rural communities and viability of services."

Another key finding of the report is based on a new attitudes survey of national and rural opinion leaders, rural and urban adults and 11 -17 year olds. It found that while opinion leaders mentioned farming more times than any other issue as a key challenge for the countryside, the public (both rural and urban) rated it fourth behind protecting the countryside environment, stopping suburbanisation and access to services. What's more, in stark contrast to national opinion leaders, nearly three times as many public respondents rated national action on improving health and education as very important. Rural opinion leaders were placed between the two extremes.

Other issues facing rural residents include:

crime rates start lower and are falling at the same rate as in urban areas, but the British Crime Survey reports a counter trend in the crime category 'violence against the person'. Urban rates have almost halved since 1995 (from 1108 incidences to 645 per 10,000 adults/households) but in rural areas the fall is only one tenth (from 621 to 543).  

  • In this one category the rural and urban crime rates appear to be coming together; 
  • there was a decrease in the number of post offices with 5% closing in 2000/01;
  • education levels are higher with NVQ Level 3 and Key Stage 2 scores slightly higher than urban;
  • but few people working in rural businesses have access to NVQ training. Less than 1% of microbusinesses (typical rural businesses) succeeded in NVQ implementation compared to 3% for small businesses, 10% for medium businesses & 26% for large businesses nationally;
  • rural wage rates are on average 12% lower than those in urban areas mainly due to a larger number of jobs based in agriculture and service industries. Average household incomes in the countryside are higher, yet 14% of the most income-deprived wards are rural;
  • many commentators cite an urban lack of understanding of countryside issues. However, new survey evidence in the report shows that children from villages have less awareness of the Country Code (29%) than those living in big towns and cities (36%). Children living in rural towns have the highest awareness (39%). 
Despite the profound local impacts of foot and mouth disease, rural England is in a state of relative stability, says Ewen Cameron, but there are still many areas for improvement: "The Countryside Agency will be working hard through its many programmes helping deliver stronger communities, economies and a better environment, to play its part in ensuring a vibrant living countryside for future generations."

The report presents data and analysis under the framework of 20 thematic indicators which paint a picture of changing rural economic, social and environmental conditions. A full version of The state of the countryside 2002 report (CA109) can be downloaded from our web site at www.countryside.gov.uk/stateofthecountryside  or obtained in June, cost £5.00, from Countryside Agency Publications, P.O.Box 125, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7EP Tel: 0870 120 6466.

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Note to editors

The Countryside Agency is responsible for advising government and taking action on issues relating to the social, economic and environmental well-being of the English countryside.