Rural heating oil customers finding their communities at risk?

4 August 2011

Posted by John King

Individuals living in the countryside, many of whom may rely on heating oil to keep their homes warm, could find their communities are at risk unless more is done to encourage the building of new affordable houses in these areas.

According to figures obtained by the Countryside Alliance, there is a need to build 76,532 new properties each year outside of urban parts of the UK, but the 135 councils the group contacted only planned to construct 17,208 in 2010-11.

Chief executive of the group Alice Barnard stated that if this need is not met quickly, many rural communities could "shrivel and die".

She added: "Even in the current difficult economic climate, meeting rural housing needs must continue to be a priority for the government, its agencies and local authorities."

The organisation stated a lack of affordable properties could lead to the loss of vital services for many areas and the break-up of communities.

Created in 1997 in response to the Labour government's plans to ban fox hunting, the body has over 105,000 members and campaigns on rural issues at Parliament.

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