Access in Rural Norfolk
From Norfolk RCC
Access to services is a key rural issue. Consultation by Norfolk RCC with its stakeholders suggest it is the top concern of rural people alongside affordable housing.
On the whole people in rural areas do not experience deprivation, ill health, unemployment or other issues differently to their urban counterparts. However, the support available can be severly limitted often intensified by issues of distance, cost and time- this can increase teh impact on people .
Some respond by saying that people choose to live in the countryside with its many benefits, and that accepting the lack of services is part of this choice. However, for someone who suddenly finds themsleves in ill health, is bereaved, becomes unemployed or has caring responsibilities, choices may be limitted.
The report on access to services below builds on previous work by Norfolk RCC into hidden rural deprivation, this work has since been carried out by all RCC’s nationally and a series of new research is being produced looking at specific rural issues.
- The original research into Rural Deprivation and 2010 updates can be found here
- A Norfolk RCC press release accompanying this report can be found here
- More information on Norfolk RCC's work to address access to service issues can be found here