Farron Urges Government to "Get Serious" With Rural Poverty

4.28.20pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th Jul 2008

Local MP Tim Farron has called on the Government to tackle poverty in rural areas after a report released yesterday by the Commission for Rural Communities revealed that around 20% of children and pensioners in rural areas were living in poverty in 2007.

Mr Farron expressed his concern about rising house prices in South Lakeland, which cost twelve times the local income and proposed his Home on the Farm policy as a possible solution.

Tim has reiterated his call for disused farm buildings to be converted into local affordable housing. The Home on the Farm initiative would see local authorities taking the lead in addressing the problem of the lack of affordable housing by allowing farmers to convert their outbuildings more easily. It would also help to kickstart the construction industry at this difficult time.

Mr Farron also urged the North West Development Agency to invest in the Shenstone Business Park which would create better paid jobs for the area.

Commenting Mr Farron:

"These figures are extremely concerning; but provide valuable additional evidence that rubbishes the assumption that poverty exists in Cumbria only on the west coast .

"It's time that the Government and the NWDA provided investment for these areas and got serious about tackling rural poverty.

"I am calling on the Government to provide funding for my Home on the Farm idea which would help alleviate the housing crisis and provide a rural solution to rural poverty".