Unless access to services in rural parts of Northamptonshire improves, it is inevitable that rural people will become even more dependent on the private car says Northamptonshire ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) commenting on a new report published by the Rural Development Commission on the llth February. The Commission's third national survey of England's rural services shows that a significant number of rural parishes lack basic services such as shops, post offices and schools and that rural Northamptonshire is less well served than nationally. Many of the county's 170,000 rural population find themselves increasingly isolated.

Based on information provided by town and parish councils, the report 1997 Survey of Rural Service provides a unique picture of rural life in the 1990s. Although it is encouraging to see that since 1991 there has not been a major decline in most services either locally or nationally, the report shows that rural people are dependent on private transport and will be particularly vulnerable to measures designed to reduce car use. People without access to a private car face real disadvantages says ACRE's director, Bill Perrett.

The survey shows that in Northamptonshire:

46% of parishes have no permanent shop of any kind (national figure 42%) ·

96% have no public nursery (national figure 93%)

92% have no daycare for the elderly (national figure 91%)

89% have no GP based in the parish (national figure 83%)

83% have no daily bus service (national figure 75%)

Mr Perrett said that the lack of local services and public transport is a real problem for those without access to a private car, with some groups particularly affected including the elderly, young people, people with disabilities, those on low incomes and women with young children.

The 1997 Survey of Local Services is available, price £25.00, from the Rural Development Commission, Freepost 5A122, 141 Castle Street, Salisbury SP1 3BR Fax: 01722 432773. A free summary is available.

Northamptonshire ACRE is the rural community charity for the county and provides advice and support to rural community groups.

Further information is available from Jason Middleton or Catherine Lomaz at ACRE Tel: 01604 765888