CPRE West Midlands Rural Issues

Rural Issues

Approximately 80% of the area of the West Midlands, but only 20% of the population, is rural. These areas are highly diverse. The development of areas such as North Worcestershire or Southern Staffordshire has been heavily influenced by the Birmingham/Black Country conurbation, where many residents work, shop or spend their leisure time. On the other hand, the Welsh Marches and parts of the Peak District are among the most remote rural areas in the country.

Green Belt page

CPRE West Midlands believes that many rural areas need action (including some new development) to deal with problems of unemployment, underemployment or low incomes, or to provide affordable housing or supporting services for local people. However, we oppose indiscriminate development which runs the risk of destroying the environment and rural character of these areas. In general, new housing and jobs should be designed to meet the needs of local people, not to attract migrants (particularly those from the main urban areas). A careful balance needs to be struck by all the local authorities concerned. Development should as far as possible be within or immediately adjacent to an existing settlement rather than in the open countryside and should be of an appropriate size for its setting. We are looking for organic change not imposed eyesores.

Transport issues are also important. Small-scale improvements to existing roads may be necessary (for example to deal with safety problems), but we oppose major road building (such as M6 widening or the Wolverhampton and Stourbridge Bypasses) which permanently damages the landscape and brings extra traffic into rural areas, threatening their tranquillity. Public transport needs to be strengthened (with the accent on community-based, responsive systems) to improve access to jobs and services for the substantial minority and socially excluded sections of the population without access to a car. Stricter speed limits and better enforcement are required to reduce the fear of traffic by a majority of people in rural areas, encouraging more environmentally friendly walking and cycling. Our research shows road safety is the number one issue for many parishes in the region.

We support the concept of a designated Rural Regeneration Zone in the west of the region, but we have major concerns about proposals for a 'transport/development corridor' along the A49 in Herefordshire and Shropshire. This could all too easily become an excuse for inappropriate development in one of the region's most environmentally sensitive area, and for damaging road schemes such as the Hereford Bypass.

We strongly support the growing emphasis on improving rural services and on a community-based approach to planning. There has been a decline in the availability of many rural services; e.g. post offices, banks, schools, health facilities and community facilities; in the West Midlands over the past few years and this needs to be reversed. To achieve this will require a proactive approach, with emphasis on service providers in both public and private sectors working together. In some cases, new premises will be needed to enable joint provision.

It is vital that the local community has a strong influence over the development of its village or rural area. Rural planning requires great sensitivity to local circumstances and positive initiative to respect and enhance local distinctiveness.

Rural people have many skills which can be harnessed, and proposals which have arisen from the local community are much more likely to be accepted by it. We therefore support initiatives, such as the Countryside Agency's 'Vital Villages', which give local people a say in what happens in their areas.