Report finds rural poverty behind closed doors

6.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 8th May 2008

Rural Poverty and social exclusion "cannot be denied" according to a new report from 'Children in Wales'. The report's title "Families not areas suffer rural disadvantage" highlights the organisation's findings that pockets of deprivation are often hidden amongst more affluent areas in rural Wales.

Interviewed agencies highlighted "problems accessing services, leisure opportunities and welfare advice" with "many families' problems…exacerbated by the lack of affordable transport and struggling on a low-income."

Kirsty Williams AM for Brecon & Radnorshire and Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Economy commented "This report confirms what those of us from rural Wales have constantly tried to impress upon the Assembly Government - that poverty is not restricted to the M4 corridor and does in fact extend to rural areas such as Powys.

"Areas of deprivation in rural areas may be more spread out and hidden behind idyllic landscape but poverty is still a very real issue."

The study states that the unit cost of providing services in rural areas is higher than in urban areas and therefore the rural element of the Revenue Support Grant should be increased to reflect this.

The report stresses the lack of resources and policy directed at the support of family and community in rural areas and is essential that the Assembly Government develops support that is specifically applicable to the rural context.

The report calls for new indicators of relative poverty so as to include rural areas in WAG deprivation funding, along with longer term grants.

Kirsty said: "We need investment in the local economy to encourage new businesses and job creation; we need investment in public transport so that those without car access are not left isolated; we need to retain our local health care services for a healthy population; we need affordable housing with more rural housing enablers and access to inexpensive childcare.

Notes: Wales Rural Observatory research shows that that the proportion of working households in rural Wales earning less than £10,000 in 2003 was identical to that in urban areas, at 20% and only slightly below the figure for the valleys (21%).