Breadcrumbs
After the march...what next? Countryside Agency sets challenges for all - 20 September 2002
Speaking on the eve of the march, Ewen Cameron, chairman of the Countryside Agency and rural advocate, said: "It is vital that the broad concerns of rural communities are not obscured by the hunting debate, and that their concerns over affordable housing, the delivery of rural services and transport are not lost in the noise of the march.
"To meet those concerns means work for rural communities themselves as well as for policy makers. The challenge for rural people returning after the countryside march will be to turn their energy and commitment into positive action to build on the strength of their communities and help themselves. By working with the Countryside Agency and others to identify local priorities, people from rural communities can help revitalise their towns and villages," he said.
Why do country people feel rural life is eroding? Do they know what their community needs to thrive in the future? If not, a parish or town plan could help them have a greater say in their own affairs and the future of their town or village.
If they do know what they need, grants are available to help improve or introduce new services from child care schemes to help for a village shop. Or if their community is isolated, they could get support for small scale projects such as moped pools, taxi buses and minibus brokerage schemes.
More than £14 million has already been invested through the Agency's vital villages initiative in grants for plans and services since Margaret Beckett launched it 15 months ago to help rural communities throughout England. If local people can get together and raise say £2,500 to kickstart a project to help their community, the Countryside Agency can offer a range of advice and turn it into a £10,000 investment.
Mr Cameron continued: "The Rural White Paper was a real step forward and much has already been achieved. The challenge for Government now is to ensure continuing rapid progress against the remaining policy commitments. In particular, the flexibility to respond to new circumstances is the best way to demonstrate its commitment to the countryside."
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Note to editors
1. The public can find out more about grants for parish and town plans, community services, parish transport and rural transport partnerships by getting an application pack, including guidance and sources of additional help and advice, from our vital villages call centre on 0870 333 0170 or check out the Countryside Agency web site on www.countryside.gov.uk/vitalvillages Case studies available.
2. 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.
3. The Rural White Paper, Our Countryside: the Future, was published in November 2000. DEFRA maintains and updates an implementation plan for the policy commitments made in the rural white paper, which can be viewed on their web site.
4. Ewen Cameron, the government's rural advocate, will attend the countryside march in London on Sunday 22 September to listen to rural people's concerns about countryside issues.
