With many eyes focused upon the actions being taken by the government, keeping the British landscape and way of life as it is will require more than simply sitting back according to a recent report titled The Rural Challenge by the Rural Coalition.
The report makes no less than 38 recommendations, and includes useful case studies, saying 'sustainability cannot be achieved by how we currently live our lives'.
According to the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) this report calls for fundamental change in order to prevent the loss of village life as we know it.
The communities need affordable housing, local services and reasonable salary prospects to be available.
The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) was instrumental in the birth of the Rural Coalition, in September 2008.
It is made up of organisations including the CPRE, Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).
Following the announcement of the closure of the CRC and the creation of a new group within Defra called the Rural Communities Policy Unit, the Telegraph predicts a reduction in consideration of the needs of the countryside population.
Certainly the press spokesperson for CPRE thought it unlikely that the present work of the CRC will be continued, saying: “I doubt if CRC will be replaced in any way. It was a valuable organisation – and it did some good work on rural poverty, good research, and had an excellent yearly report called State of the Countryside.
While there will not be any more CRC reports, the voice of campaigning groups is loud.
The Rural Challenge report goes on to call for autonomy in Parish councils to control planning, development and new buildings, in order to give them the freedom to decide upon small developments, planning for sustainable neighbourhoods and protection from service cuts.
They suggest that some savings from government cuts should be ploughed in to 'empowering' local communities to develop alternatives. Suggestions include community ownership of local amenities and sustainable utility services.
The CPRE said that they are also involved with proposals for planning.
"The government is looking at reinvigorating the planning system, and we are watching what changes are being proposed and trying to influence these changes," the CPRE spokesperson said.
"Fuel poverty is also being worked on, as well as energy generation and power."
But the macro and the micro both have their place. While empowering local authorities is action the government should commit to, there is something everyone can do.
The CPRE is currently campaigning heavily on a common issue, led by popular author Bill Bryson, with its Stop the Drop campaign all about reducing litter.
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