WHAT WILL THE RURAL SOUTH EAST BE LIKE IN 2026?

THE SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY WILL BE HOLDING A ONE-DAY CONFERENCE IN KENT ON 14 JULY to explore the key issues which will have an impact on rural areas in the South East in the next 20 years.

The main purpose of the conference is to identify key rural issues to be addressed in the new Regional Spatial Strategy which is currently being developed by the Regional Assembly and to start developing a long-term vision for the rural South East, looking forward to 2026.

Key issues which will be explored during the conference include:

• Should new development in the open countryside be resisted or encouraged?
  
  
• How much development is appropriate for market towns and small rural settlements?
  
  
• How do we provide sufficient affordable housing in rural areas?
  
  
• Will it be possible to provide realistic alternatives to the private car through the introduction of innovative public transport schemes in rural areas?
  
  
• How do we address the issue of maintaining landscape quality in the face of the changes facing farming?

In the afternoon, Sir Donald Curry will be launching the Government’s Strategy for Sustainable Food and Farming.

The conference will be attended by over 100 delegates from local authorities, rural action groups, business organisations, and regional and national organisations such as the Environment Agency, Countryside Agency and SEEDA.

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007