Chaplain lashes out over rural poverty (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Chaplain lashes out over rural poverty

4:50pm Wednesday 16th July 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share

THE Hereford Diocese, which includes Ludlow and is considered to be the most rural diocese in the Church of England, has pointed to a lack of progress in tackling rural poverty.

The Commission for Communities published its State of the Countryside 2008 report today (Wednesday) highlighting the decline in services in rual areas and the challenge of meeting the need for affordable homes.

Diocesan chaplain for Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Nick Read, said: "The decline in rural services, the acute need for affordable rural housing and the lack of accessible rural transport are all long term trends which make the countryside a difficult place in which to live for those on low incomes and with little or no private transport."

Figures show poverty is increasing at a faster rate in the countryside - three per cent - than elsewhere and that about a fifth of households now live below the poverty line.

In the poorest fifth of homes half the weekly income goes on food, housing, energy, transport and other essentials compared with 39 per cent in the highest income rural households and 47 per cent in the poorest urban households.

The report highlights communities' worries over declining services and says that in each of the last ten years the Commission has found fewer outlets for many services and increasing problems of access to services for people without cars.

"We remain concerned at the declining infrastructure in our rural areas and the recent threats to Post Offices, schools and doctors surgeries.

He added: "The huge rise in fuel prices have had a significant effect on rural families who have no choice but to rely on a car."

Housing affordability continues to be worse in rural areas, according to the report.

The cost of a house is 6.8 times the annual rural household income, compared to 5.8 times in urban areas and in some sparsely populated districts the price of a home can be almost ten times the annual income.

• Print
• Email
• Share