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This article is provided courtesy of the news feed at http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news

Young people’s needs must be urgently addressed to avoid a major threat to the long-term viability of country life, the government’s rural advocate has warned.

Based on evidence gathered from communities across rural England, Stuart Burgess argues that deep concerns over housing, work, transport, training and social exclusion are prompting an exodus of young people from the countryside.

In a report delivered directly to the prime minister, Dr Burgess says: ‘Without young people to provide a work force, rural economies are unable to fulfill their full potential and rural communities can go into a decline.

‘On top of this, lack of broadband and mobile phone coverage in many rural areas is hitting young people and businesses alike – be it through recruitment and employment, better access to learning and support services or enjoying the connectivity that has become an everyday feature of urban youth culture, such as joining a social network or getting internet help with homework.’

The Commission for Rural Communities, which Dr Burgess chairs, has also published a State of the countryside update, setting out the statistical facts of rural life for children and young people.

Social housing accounts for 13% of the housing stock in rural areas, compared with 22% in urban places, while just 23 of England’s 573 Job Centre Plus outlets are located in rural areas.

More than a fifth of urban children can reach where they want to be on foot but this drops to 7% for rural residents and, despite 60% of urban areas receiving cable-based broadband, the figure slumps to 1.5% for villages and hamlets.

Dr Burgess said rural young people’s needs must be addressed ‘positively and urgently’ by breaking the low aspiration cycle and harnessing their enthusiasm and creativity.

The report puts forward practical solutions, including:

· Flexible planning to create more affordable rural housing
· New ways to meet employment and training needs in more isolated areas
· A renewed integrated public transport focus
· Prioritising rural areas in the government’s Next generation access replacement broadband programme.