Rural Access to Services

10.42 The Index of Multiple Deprivation ( IMD) in 2004 2007 identified that access to services was a particular issue for many south west communities. A measure of rural access deprivation is also included within State of the Countryside data issued by the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC). Specifically, there is information about the percentage of rural households within particular distances of 10 key services.

10.43 In 2007 these figures indicated that access deprivation among South West rural households was greater than the average across England for 10 (out of 13) of the services. In particular, the South West had much lower proportions of rural households within 8km of a Job Centre and within 4km of secondary schools, Bank or Building societies than nationally.

10.44 Comparison of data for 2000 and 2007 indicates that access deprivation has increased within the region in this period for a number of the services. The biggest changes are in the percentage of South West rural households within 4km of a Post Office (down by 5 percentage points) and within 4km of a Bank or Building Society (down 4 percentage points). However not all the changes were negative, more rural households are now within 4km of a Cashpoint (up 6 percentage points) and within 4km of a GP surgery (up 4 percentage points).

Figure 10.10 Proportion of South West Rural Households Within Specific Distances of Key Services 2000 and 2007, percentages (Popup full image) 
Fig 10.10 Proportion of South West Rural Households Within Specific Distances of Key Services 2000 and 2007, percentages.pdf

10.45 Rural households in the South West have less access to key services than in most of the other English regions.  The East of England and West Midlands also have similar levels of access deprivation .

Table 10.10 Proportion of Rural Households within Set Distances of Key Services by Region 2007)
 

Km

England

East of England

East Midlands

London

North East

North West

South East

South West

West Midlands

Yorks. & Humber
Banks & Building Societies

4

63

57

61

86

75

76

64

61

53

68
Cashpoints (all)

4

91

88

91

100

93

93

93

90

89

90
Cashpoints (free)

4

77

73

78

100

87

82

80

73

70

77
GP Surgeries (all sites)

4

84

84

86

100

90

85

87

81

77

83
GP Surgeries (Principal sites)

4

80

79

81

100

86

83

82

76

74

78
Job Centres

8

54

52

51

97

75

69

50

54

54

51
NHS Dentists

4

68

62

63

100

80

80

72

65

61

68
Petrol Stations

4

87

84

87

100

87

90

89

89

84

87
Post Offices

2

85

84

86

80

92

87

84

84

79

87
Primary Schools

2

88

87

90

95

91

90

88

85

80

90

Secondary Schools

4

62

61

64

70

76

76

59

55

58

66
Super-markets

4

71

68

76

85

86

80

71

63

63

72
Yellow shading = less than the English average
Source: Commission for Rural Communities - State of the Countryside Data

    10.46  

    10.47 Defra Rural Focus Reports issued in October 2004 include the same information for district and unitary councils. In the South West, 4 out of the 45 authorities have an average of less than 60% of their rural households within the specific distances shown above, the Isles of Scilly and the districts of Torridge, Cotswold and West Devon. In total, more than half of the 45 average less than 75%.

    Further information: Defra Rural Focus Reports