Complementarities between urban and rural areas in promoting ...

COMPLEMENTARITIES BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS IN PROMOTING EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL INCLUSIONThe changing nature of the rural communitiesin EssexRural communities in Essex have recently changed.22% of the workforce commutes daily outof the county, which means that rural settlementshave largely become dormitory towns.There is an overall reduction in affordable housingas people from London are purchasingsecond properties as holiday homes or weekendlets. As a result of the loss of agricultural subsidiesand markets, there has been a reduction infarm incomes, a loss of traditional rural skillsand there are changing skill requirements. Allthese aspects have a negative impact on therural economy.Local government is particularly involved in providingbasic social amenities, education andcommunication, access to rural transport facilities,ensuring availability of affordable housing,maintaining public rights of way as well as theremoval of rural social isolation barriers.This is done in cooperation with districts,boroughs, and town and parish councils. Thereare 2-way liaisons on all key issues includingeconomic development, social services, environment,transport, planning and tourism.lost. As a result, a number of farmers and farmworkers left the farming industry. The impact ofthe Foot and Mouth Disease on tourism was feltto a much stronger extent. The number of visitorsto the countryside fell. This was furtheramplified by the impact of 11 September 2001.The result was a huge loss in revenue for thecounty and an immediate reduction in seasonalemployment.In this very difficult situation, the Essex RuralPartnership was established, which has currentlyover 160 representatives and decision makersfrom the rural economy and rural organisations.It is a communication network including all keystakeholders from both inside and outside theEssex County Council, and serves as a forum forthe exchange and dissemination of information.One of the first tasks of the Essex Rural Partnershipwas to subdivide itself into manageableareas such as rural economy, employment, community,transport, the environment and conservation.It has three secretariats for the threesub-groups as well as a coordination body and arural strategy group which takes advice frompeople at the ground level as to the form longtermpolicy should take.MEASURES TAKEN AND FIRST OUTCOMESThe Foot and Mouth Crisis 2001There has recently been the challenge of theFoot and Mouth crisis. The County Council initiatedemergency procedures by closing allpublic rural rights of way and the County Councilmonitored and evaluated disease control togetherwith the Department for Environment, Foodand Rural Affairs (DEFRA) which made recommendationson measures to be taken to the UKParliament.●The establishment of a rural economy and employmenthub called Waymark Essex. This serves as apartnership of 150+ agencies, providing adviceand training. It is a signposting and problem solvingfacility which is free of charge.● Specific help for the tourism industry: £50,000was invested in an advertising campaign. Supportfor Agro-Tourism schemes was given ie. craftfairs and food fairs to create extra-seasonalemployment.— 14 —The Foot and Mouth Disease had a severe impacton the social and employment situation of the●The Essex Farm Attractions Group was establishedto encourage farm diversification, givingcountryside. Farmers were not allowed to movefarmers the possibility to earn extra income whiletheir cattle but they still had related expenses.continuing with their usual farming activities. InMoreover, some of the traditional markets wereaddition, they intended to create further jobs