Govt.. Inquiry into England�s Upland Communities

Mon Mar 9 12:04:28 GMT 2009

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Commission for Rural Communities' Inquiry into the future for Englands upland communities
Ref: http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/projects/uplandcommunities/overview

CRC's wide-ranging inquiry is seeking to:
    * identify and evaluate the key drivers of change in England's upland communities
    * develop and promote realistic policy recommendations that enable and equip these communities to move towards more secure, economically
prosperous and sustainable futures

Watch this short film about what this inquiry will entail, at:
http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/publications/crc94anintroductiontoouruplandsinquiryfilm

CRC are calling for evidence to bring in views, ideas, and first-hand
experiences, from local people, businesses, visitors and wider
beneficiaries. Evidence will help inform CRC's report to the Government which will recommend actions to give our uplands a more promising future.

You are invited to submit written evidence to our Inquiry into the future for Englands upland communities by 30th April 2009.

Purpose of the Inquiry into the future for Englands upland communities

Englands uplands include the northern spine of the Pennines, the Cumbrian fells, the upland moors of Yorkshire and the West Country, the Shropshire hills and a part of the Black Mountains in Herefordshire. These upland areas contribute to local, regional and national economies and play a key role in landscape conservation, recreational activities, biodiversity, cultural and natural heritage and water management. But their future is insecure. Currently many hill farmers are struggling to remain viable.
Similarly many upland communities are endeavouring to remain advantageous places to work, retain their services and build sustainable futures.

The task of this Inquiry into the future for Englands upland communities is twofold.

First, the Inquiry aims to understand how upland communities function and learn about their aspirations for a vibrant and sustainable future.
Second, it will develop and promote realistic policy recommendations that support these communities to secure a sustainable future.

Dr Stuart Burgess, the Rural Advocate, working with five Commissioners, will conduct this Inquiry supported by a small team of advisers. The recommendations will be presented to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the autumn of 2009.

Invitation to tell us what you think

Over the next few months, the Commissioners will engage with key
stakeholders, including communities throughout the uplands. We want to
hear your ideas, however radical, and your views about the future of the uplands.

The wording of the questions in this document is directed at those who
live and work in the uplands.  However, we welcome the views of anyone
with an interest in the uplands.  Please interpret the questions broadly, but it would help us if in your response you could follow the general structure below. Do not feel that you have to answer every question.

We therefore invite anyone with views about whats needed for the future sustainability of communities in the uplands, to write to the Inquiry by 30th  April 2009   using letter, fax, e-mail or through our website www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/projects/uplandcommunities

You are free to say whatever you wish, but it would help us to analyse the views we receive if you could use the questionnaire provided, or if, in your response, you could clearly distinguish the particular questions you are responding to in what you say. Please illustrate your ideas, as far as you can, with examples from your own experience or from other evidence. These questions are available to download from our website and you can post, fax, e-mail the completed form. If you feel you dont want to answer all the questions, please answer those that are most important to you.

What happens to the views you submit?

The Commissioners want their deliberations to be informed by the views of
people living in upland communities and others who have a particular
interest in the uplands, so your submissions are very important to us. We
will also gather information through a programme of regional hearings and
visits in the uplands and from research we have commissioned.
We will use all the information gathered from all sources to identify
options that cover the needs and aspirations of upland communities and
make recommendations to support a vibrant, sustainable future. These will
be written up into a report submitted to the Prime Minister and Secretary
of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. If there are important
recommendations emerging that should be passed on to Government sooner,
the Inquiry will publish interim findings.

We would like to make all the evidence submitted to us publicly available
and we need to know whether you are happy for your response to be
publicised. Please complete the Respondent Information section of the form
as this will ensure that we treat your response appropriately. Submissions
from anyone who has given permission for their response to be made public
will be made available on the CRC website. Before being placed on our
website, all responses where agreement to publish has been given, will be
checked by us for any potentially defamatory material.

What happens next?

Following the closing date, all responses will be analysed and considered
along with any other available evidence to help the Commissioners form
their views about how to achieve a sustainable future for Englands
uplands. These will be published in a report and made widely available. 
Responses will be made anonymous.

Please send us your views and a completed respondent information form and
send it to us by no later than 30th  April 2009, in one of the following
ways:

POST
Send to: Uplands Inquiry Manager
Commission for Rural Communities
John Dower House
Crescent Place
Cheltenham
GL50 3RA

Website
Post your comments at: www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/projects/uplandcommunities

E-mail your response to: uplandsinquiry at ruralcommunities.gov.uk

Fax
Send on headed paper to: 01242 584270

Section 1: Communities

Upland communities have changed and continue to do so. Their distinctive
demographic structure illustrates an ageing profile normally associated
with a higher than average out-migration of younger people for education
and improved employment prospects, and the return in later life of former
residents and the retirement of older people. The perceived attractiveness
of upland landscapes, and their peace and quiet, has placed considerable
demand pressures on the supply of housing, as evidenced by the rise in
house prices and the significant waves of in-migration in recent years.

Meanwhile, services continue to decline in both number and variety due, it
seems, to a combination of businesses being pressured by the market to
achieve economies of scale, service providers choosing to centralise in
key settlements to satisfy their need to reduce costs, and changes in
peoples behaviour that might at least be partly attributable to increases
in personal mobility and increasing access to, and use of the internet.

Evidence of the consequences of these changes appears to be mixed and
often specific to local circumstances, the place and even each individual
household. Therefore the levels of disadvantage in upland communities may
not always be obviously apparent.

The following questions aim to find out what it is like living and working
in upland communities, from your own experience and knowledge, and
identify what needs to be put in place to enable upland communities to
rejuvenate themselves for a sustainable future.

C1. What do you regard as the strengths of upland communities?
For instance, what aspects of an upland community will be most significant
in securing its future?  And why?
Please tell us what attributes of living or working in your upland
community will help to ensure it thrives well into the future.

C2. What do you consider to be the weaknesses of upland communities?
Converse to the above, what is it that undermines the viability of upland
communities now, and possibly in the future?
Please tell us what concerns you have about living and/or working in the
uplands.

C3. What do you consider to be the most promising opportunities for the
future of people living and/or working in upland communities?
For instance, can upland communities lead the way in tackling climate
change? Or can they demonstrate how community-led planning and democracy
can deliver positive results? Again, please tell us about your own
experience and what you think your own community can offer.

C4. What factors most threaten the continued existence of upland
communities? For instance, how will a lack of affordable housing , a
decline in local services, or an ageing population affect  the future
prosperity of upland communities? Are any of these factors affecting your
own community?

C5. What actions do you consider necessary to secure the future prosperity
of upland communities? And why should these be a priority? What would help
your community to survive and prosper into the future?

Section 2: Economies

Typically the economic activities of upland areas are made up of an
important but declining land based sector, a growing tourism sector, a
multitude of micro-businesses, and an increase in home working. Also a
significant proportion of upland residents commute outside the area for
work. Economic performance is mixed. Strengths can include relatively high
rates of business formation and survival, and new opportunities include a
rise in the importance of agriculture in the face of climate change, as
well as maintaining food security and generating renewable energy to
mitigate the potential effects of peak oil.

There are many challenges. By their nature, the uplands are a challenging
area to operate a business successfully; immediate markets are small due
to low population density and distances to urban areas are often large.
Skills shortages are prevalent and it can often be difficult to retain
younger skilled workers. On the other hand, there may be advantages for a
business located in the uplands, if the area attracts tourists or is seen
to offer a certain brand.

In the context of the current economic downturn, the financial viability
of many hill and upland farms and small rural businesses will be brought
into sharp focus.

Creating and maintaining strong upland economies is critical to supporting
sustainable and vibrant upland communities. The following questions prompt
you to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
facing economic activity in the uplands. They also ask you what policies
or measures you wish to see introduced or developed to help rural
businesses, including hill farming, to deliver far more for the economy
both locally and nationally, and rejuvenate upland communities.

E1.What do you regard as the strengths of upland economies?
For instance, is there any evidence of more inter-dependence and loyalty
to local businesses in upland areas? Is there a strong image which the
area presents which may assist the marketing of its products?
And to what extent is economic activity in the uplands distinct from that
elsewhere?
Please tell us what, in your experience, is working well in the uplands
and especially in your own community.

E2. What do you consider to be the weaknesses of upland economies?
For instance, what constraints or barriers adversely affect the
performance of businesses in the uplands? What currently has an adverse
affect on the commercial viability of hill and upland farming? Or on other
small businesses in the uplands? Please tell us, from your experience,
what is not currently working well in upland economies. What problems is
your own business facing?

E3. What opportunities are there for new enterprise, business growth and
employment in upland communities? For instance, will the global challenges
of climate change, peak oil and food security open up new business
opportunities in the uplands? And what support is needed to get new
business ideas up and running? Please tell us what opportunities exist for
upland economies into the future, how these can be supported and give
examples where this is already happening.

E4. What threatens existing and future economic activities in the uplands?
For instance, what will be the effect of the economic downturn on economic
activity in the uplands?  What sectors or types of activity are most
vulnerable?  And why? Please explain what threatens the existence of hill
farming, tourism and other economic activities in the uplands. How are
businesses being affected in your own area? What are the particular
problems they face just now?

E5. What actions do you consider necessary to secure the future prosperity
of upland economies? How can hill farmers and other businesses in the
uplands ensure their long term viability? Please describe what types of
support businesses need to secure a long-term future and where you think
this investment should come from. What support would help secure the
long-term viability of your own business?

Section 3: Public Goods and Benefits

The uplands are treasured and unique areas that provide multiple benefits
to society. They feature some of our most iconic landscapes, distinctive
history, traditions and cultural heritage. This is in large part
attributed to the many thousands of years of land management and to the
people who have lived and worked in upland communities for generations.
Their sustained input has created public goods and benefits for many
others to make use of.  Today our uplands are cherished places providing
places for outdoor recreation and tourism, strongly linked with
improvements in physical and mental health. They are also home to some of
our most special wildlife and unique habitats. They gather more than 70%
of our drinking water, and store billions of tonnes of carbon in peat and
soils.

These public goods  provide opportunities for businesses such as farming,
forestry, grouse and deer sporting management.  Their attractiveness as
places to live and work has helped to attract more high tech businesses
and inward migration.  The uplands also remain areas of untapped potential
for renewable energy, as well as climate change adaptation and mitigation
in certain locations.

Despite significant public subsidy, many potential public goods and
benefits are still not being delivered or could be placed under threat.
There have been, and still are, tensions between different interests
including agricultural and forestry and conservation interests, between
environmental interests and local communities, renewable energy
developers, and wider communities interests in recreation and tourism.

In the following questions we are seeking to ascertain the value we as a
society place on the public benefits delivered by the uplands of England
and what changes might be necessary to secure their long-term future.

B1. Which existing public benefits do you value most and why?
Please let us know what upland attributes are most important to you and
please give examples from your own experience.

B2. Are some public benefits either overlooked or lacking adequate
investment? For instance, should we value the existence of sustainable
upland communities and hill farmers, the landscapes, biodiversity and
natural resources above and beyond the future potential of the uplands to
deliver new public goods/benefits  such as energy, clean water,
recreational landscapes? Please let us know, from your experience, what
you think about the existing investment in public benefits within the
uplands. Are there any public benefits in your area which might be lost in
the future?

B3. Do changes to land use and ownership in the uplands offer new
opportunities for investment in existing or new public goods/benefits? For
instance, should we invest in more development for leisure, recreation and
public health benefits or more conservation to protect habitats, wildlife,
heritage and natural resources? Should there be any restrictions on who
can own land in the uplands? Should more or less be in public ownership?
Please tell us what you regard as the most significant opportunities for
investing in public benefits in the uplands.

B4. Are some public benefits now vulnerable due to recent (or possibly
future) social, economic, ( e.g. public subsidy or private investment) 
and environmental changes in the uplands? For instance, what are the
potential implications of climate change on upland communities? Would you
be affected by rising oil prices? Or by centralisation of public services,
like schools and post offices? What would be the impact on upland
communities if livestock farming retreated from the hills/uplands? And is
enough being done to maintain traditional upland skills such as dry stone
walling? Please explain what you consider to be the most pressing threats
facing the future provision of public benefits in your own community.

B5.  What actions do you consider necessary to secure the public goods and
benefits we derive from the uplands? Please describe what measures should
be maintained, enhanced, introduced or perhaps even removed to secure the
public benefits.

Section 4: Policies and Practice

There are many outside influences on the uplands which, now and in the
future, have a profound impact on its complex social, economic and
environmental structure. For example, successive European and UK policies
have attempted to maintain the viability and sustainability of the uplands
using a mixture of incentives, subsidy and support delivered through
local, regional and national government agencies. These are mainly
sectoral in nature, with separate departments and support systems for
agriculture, biodiversity, landscape conservation, climate change,
forestry, national parks and other types of protected areas, town and
country planning, transport and telecommunications etc.

The following questions aim to find out if, and how, current policies fit
the multiple and complex needs of the uplands, and how well they address
the respective and diverse needs of upland communities as places.  They
also ask for examples or approaches that can be considered good practice,
now and in the future.

P1. There are many agencies with policies that broadly aim to secure a
sustainable future for the uplands  (e.g.  AONB/National Park plans; 
Local Strategic Partnerships and Sustainable Communities Plans, Natural
England and agri-environment targets, Regional Development Agencies  and
rural development programmes, etc ). From your experience, which ones
provide tangible benefits for upland communities and how are they doing
so? Please give examples to illustrate what is working well and/or shows
potential for making a positive contribution in the future.

P2. Are existing public policies and programmes effectively addressing the
needs of upland communities? For instance, are there local strategies
where resources have been targeted in an effective way and brought about
positive change within upland communities? How have the needs and
circumstances of your community been assessed, and have you and your
neighbours been listened to?

P3. What improvements could be made to the implementation of policies and
programmes within and across upland communities? Please provide examples
of innovations in practice or policy in your area that might benefit other
upland areas and their communities.

P4. Are there any examples of public policy, at a national, regional or
local level, that threaten the future sustainability of upland communities
or economies (e.g. hill farming)?  Either by their removal, amendment or
continuation? For instance, how do policies addressing housing, transport,
economic development, public services, agriculture, natural resources,
landscape or climate change impact on the future sustainability of upland
communities? Please tell us about any area of policy that you are
concerned about, and explain how it affects upland communities, including
your own.

P5. What actions do you consider necessary to improve public policy and
programmes and their implementation in upland areas? For instance, what
should be the priorities for public policy in the uplands over the next
5-10 years and why? (e.g. support hill farming, environment, climate
change mitigation and adaptation, more or better services, housing).
Please tell us what public investment is most necessary in the uplands,
and how private sector investment (e.g. utility companies) can contribute
to a sustainable future for the uplands.

 Source:
http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/projects/uplandcommunities/overview

For more information about the inquiry, email us at
uplandsinquiry at ruralcommunities.gov.uk