Driffield Councillors attend the launch of Action for Market Towns

East Riding Councillors Symon Fraser and Felicity Temple attended the launch of a new initiative, Action for Market Towns (Yorkshire and Humberside) at Thirsk last week.  Designed as a forum for exchanging best practice and good ideas, Action for Market Towns is a countrywide network of - guess what - Market Towns!

Alun Michael launched the event, and below are key notes taking during his speech:

  • Emphasis is on making things happen locally because that is the only place where things can be made to happen.
  • The government's vision is for a sustainable, diverse and viable rural economy.
  • Many rural businesses are small and therefore need special support.
  • The differences are becoming blurred. Agriculture only now makes up 10pc of rural businesses.
  • Richmond and Whitby highlighted as beacon towns trailblazing good practice.
  • Emphasis is on engagement with the private sector.
  • Bringing a sharper focus to the rural white paper to include a strategy for sustainable rural development. Back to the environment, social and economic themes working together supporting each other in the development of rural areas.
  • Key need for good rural data to support the need for help to rural areas.
  • Rural life is clearly better than urban life but not always, but there is a real need to tackle the specific problems of the less well off in the countryside who are every bit as disadvantaged as those in urban areas.
  • Key task of ensuring that service delivery to rural areas is of an equitable quality to those in urban areas. Underlining the interdependance of Market Towns and their hinterlands.

Symon Fraser

27 November 2003