Breadcrumbs
One-stop-shops are key to the future of rural services - 13 September 2001
Speaking at the Countryside Agency's Joining up rural services conference* today (Thursday 13 September) Ewen Cameron, rural advocate and Countryside Agency chairman, called on all those involved in providing the vital services that help keep England's rural communities vibrant and viable to consider the possibilities and benefits of providing more than one service from a single location.
Mr Cameron said: "The accessibility of a wide variety of services in our countryside has been in decline for some time now. On top of this we are seeing more rural services threatened by the impact of foot and mouth disease, particularly in those areas which are heavily dependent on tourism. Accessing basic services in rural areas can be difficult and causes serious problems, especially for the low paid and unemployed, those without transport, young people and the elderly.
"Providing services jointly through one outlet is one of the most promising ways of retaining and enhancing rural services. The economies of scale and synergies created by combining one service with another means there can be services provided where they would otherwise by uneconomic, as well as benefiting the customer who only has to visit one location. Today's conference is encouraging service providers to think about all the ways they can work together to provide services to rural areas, for example joined up ways of working, partnership working and pooled budgets, and new ways of delivering key services perhaps by using new technologies.The case for joint provision is definitely there and we hope that this conference will encourage more people to come up with innovative ways of providing services to benefit rural communities."
The Countryside Agency is involved in a number of initiatives to provide key services to rural areas from one outlet, such as the Waters Upton co-location project in Shropshire. Here one centre will provide services as diverse as a shop and post office, ICT and ICT training, tax and benefits information, a chiropodist and a homework club. The Countryside Agency's Vital Villages grant schemes is also providing funding for villages to improve local transport, create services that will benefit the community and plans for the future development of a village. For further details about the Vital Villages grants please call 0870 333 0170 or visit the Countryside Agency website at www.countryside.gov.uk.
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Notes 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.
