NFYFC news
return to headline pageSW area YFCs debate rural issues with high-profile panel
Creating affordable housing is crucial to keeping rural communities vibrant and sustainable, the Government’s rural advocate Dr Stuart Burgess told YFC members at a conference in Torquay at the weekend.
The chairman of the Countryside Agency was speaking at the South West Area Young Farmers’ Clubs agriculture and rural affairs forum just days after releasing his headline-making annual Rural Advocate Report to Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
He joined a high profile panel of speakers chaired by John Lee, chairman of the South West Sustainable Food and Farming Board, which included Andrew Slade, the executive director of the South West Regional Development Agency, Nick Chase, the head of policy and research at Action With Communities in Rural England, Wiltshire YFC’s Edd Akerman and Graeme Cock, director of Mole Valley Farmers at Torquay's Livermead Cliff Hotel.
The discussion focused on the issues he deemed vital to helping to protect rural life including affordable housing, mobile phone and internet access, rural transport, jobs, employment and skills.
The Question Time-style debate on 6 March was part of a weekend of issue-led debates and interactive activities which saw more than 1,000 YFC members from 60 Young Farmers’ Clubs in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire compete in a variety of contests, from public speaking to sports and drama.
It was held ahead of the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs conference which will host its annual general meeting, agriculture and rural affairs forum, national competition finals and awards ceremony in the resort next month.
Totnes YFC member David Camp said: “The whole weekend was extremely enjoyable and really showcased the wide range of activities our members can get involved with.
“The debate gave young people living in rural communities the opportunity to voice the issues that really matter to us. It’s a major issue not to be able to get a fast internet connection during peak hours and this has a knock-on affect for our businesses and work.
“Affordable housing is also a massive problem for our generation, who have no chance of buying property in the communities we’ve been brought up and settled in.”
Graeme Cock, director of event sponsors Mole Valley Farmers, said: “The future of agriculture and associated businesses lies with these young people and it was great to be part of such a positive event.”
The weekend, organised by Devon YFC’s Nick Creasy, was also hailed a success by local police and businesses, who praised the organisers and delegates for a weekend which had passed without incident.
Owner of Torquay’s Cider Press Richard Clarke told local reporters: "It has been amazing. They have been as good as gold. I can't wait to have them back and I think we should be doing more to bring events like this to the town."