Debate on 21st Century villages

Rural life needs to be affordable for young families, it was said

A conference looking at how Sussex villages can adapt for the 21st Century has said economic factors lie at the heart of their survival.

The Action in Rural Sussex (AirS) event looked at any threats to rural life.

Chairwoman Catherine Field, who lives near Battle, East Sussex, said affordable housing for families was an essential element.

Without young people, communities would not evolve and could "run the risk of falling away", she said.

Community representatives from East and West Sussex attended the AirS conference, with speakers from the South East England Development Agency and Carnegie UK Trust.

"Village life is changing enormously," Ms Field said.

"It's being driven by economic factors, mainly house prices.

We won't get the young people and the workers we need to support the people already living there Catherine Field

"We heard from somebody who said that the average cost of a house in their village was £400,000.

"Young people either can't afford to move in or to stay there... it has an impact on the school, shops, the pub, sometimes even the church."

While many people oppose new homes in the countryside, Ms Field said "an appropriate amount of eco-friendly, low-cost housing" was needed, otherwise "we won't get the young people and the workers we need to support the people already living there".

The imminent announcement of proposed post office closures in Sussex was also on the agenda, but Ms Field added that the conference "wasn't all gloomy" with community spirit and cohesion being encouraged.

"Once people get out of their houses and start to meet their neighbours, communities can start to come alive again," she said.