March 2010 Archives

The Wales Rural Observatory's report on "Deep Rural Localities" and many of the comments at the Assembly's debate on its findings yesterday are similar to concerns often expressed by the Farmers' Union of Wales.

The union's president Gareth Vaughan said today: "Many of the conclusions of the Wales Rural Observatory report are in line with the union's ongoing concerns, highlighted over several years, and we are not surprised that they support our standpoint on such issues.

"We have regularly called for planning changes to allow for more affordable housing in a bid to stem the migration of young people from rural areas. Increased public transport provision and improved broadband and mobile phone coverage are also a crucial necessity for those living and working in Wales' numerous isolated communities.

"These services are no longer merely desirable for rural dwellers - they are vital in enabling rural businesses to survive in these modern times. Farmers are increasingly required to access the internet to comply with new legislation affecting their livelihoods and traditional way of life and the FUW has long campaigned for reliable broadband and mobile phone reception to be widely extended.

"Meanwhile, rural dwellers have to face up to higher council taxes than urban areas, increasing their cost of living, yet still experience repeated cuts in vital services."