22/06/2009 - Fears for future of rural traders
The Rural Shops Alliance and the British Beer and Pub Association are warning that more than a thousand country pubs and village shops could close during the coming year because of a continuing shortage of affordable homes in rural areas.
Over the past two years some 1,200 shops have closed in rural area, and in the past 12 months more than 600 country pubs have shut, the groups said.
They added that the dramatic rate of decline was showing little sign of slowing down and said that during the coming year around 33 village shops and 54 country pubs could go out of business each month.
An influx of wealthy commuters and second homeowners have been blamed for pricing local families out of the market and reducing demand for services in villages.
The shortage of affordable homes has also made it increasingly difficult for pubs and shops to find workers who can afford to live locally on modest wages, the groups said.
David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said: "Affordable housing lies at the centre of the battle to save traditional village life. Unless we build more affordable homes for local people, they will continue to be priced out of rural areas and the shops and pubs they support will vanish with them."
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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