Countryside Alliance - love the countryside

Your countryside has a network of vital rural services which should be protected because of its enormous social and economic value.

It’s a fact

91% of respondents in independent research from PostWatch felt post offices played an important role in their community.

Why we care

Rural services are crucial components of life in the country and provide the ‘glue’ which holds these communities together, particularly in remote areas. This additional social element means that they often play a more significant role than in towns and cities. We will work to ensure that local authority funding criteria used by Government takes into account the sparsity factor.

The Countryside Alliance believes:

 Planning regulations for pubs, shops and post offices should be changed to allow their integration under single roof ‘co-locations’ where there is a community need. More on this...

 Transport schemes must be provided with reference to the social and economic needs of the locality, and not simply around the needs of visitors to an area. More on this...

 Polyclinics could benefit rural areas but they should be opposed if they destroy local relationships between GPs and patients. More on this...

 The policy presumption against the closure of rural schools should be enforced to prevent avoidable closures. More on this...

 The Job Seekers’ Allowance should be reviewed to ensure it accounts for the seasonality of work in rural areas.This will help ensure that skilled people remain in communities for skilled work in season. More on this...