Rural survey finds most Scots believe politicians do not understand countryside.
Nearly three quarters of people living in rural Scotland believe politicians do not understand the needs of the countryside, according to a new survey commissioned by Salmon Scotland, NFU Scotland and Homes for Scotland.
The Scotland’s Rural Voice poll, carried out by Diffley Partnership, found that 73 per cent of rural residents feel decision-makers do not understand their communities, rising to 79 per cent among those in remote rural areas. Almost two thirds, 63 per cent, said rural residents do not have a meaningful voice in shaping decisions affecting them, increasing to 70 per cent in remote rural locations.
More than 3,000 Scots were surveyed for the study, including 2,102 rural residents and 1,133 urban residents, with the results weighted to reflect the Scottish population by age and gender. The findings are being launched at Craigies Farm in South Queensferry today.
Respondents in rural areas identified access to health services as their top concern, cited by 45 per cent, followed by public transport at 35 per cent and housing availability at 30 per cent. Four in five rural residents, 80 per cent, said there has been a lack of investment in infrastructure such as housing, roads and public transport, while only 15 per cent agreed that public services are meeting rural needs.
Mark Diffley, founder and director of Diffley Partnership, said: “This groundbreaking research throws the spotlight on the range of significant challenges facing Scots who live in rural communities across the country. … The messages from rural Scotland are clear, and decision-makers will be keen to reflect these messages as the Holyrood election approaches.”
Despite the concerns, the survey found rural residents report higher levels of satisfaction with their lives than urban respondents, including with their homes, the areas they live in, quality of life and general health. Fifty-seven per cent of rural respondents said they were satisfied with their sense of community and belonging, compared with 36 per cent in urban areas.
Rural depopulation remains a key issue. A lack of local employment opportunities was identified as the main reason for people moving to urban areas, cited by 62 per cent of respondents, followed by a lack of housing at 45 per cent and poor public transport at 44 per cent. One in five rural residents said they are likely to move to an urban area, rising to 36 per cent among those aged 16 to 34. A quarter of rural respondents with children said they are likely to relocate.
There was strong support for further devolution of decision-making to rural Scotland. Nearly nine in ten rural residents, 89 per cent, backed greater power being devolved to the countryside, including decisions about local services and development.
Asked about policy priorities, 90 per cent of rural respondents want the Scottish Government to invest in better broadband, 88 per cent support increased funding for public transport and 78 per cent favour expanding housing options.
Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said: “Scotland’s rural towns, villages and coastal communities should be thriving places where people want to raise their families supported by well-paid, highly skilled jobs. … But this survey shows the reality of public services in many places, with poor access to healthcare, housing and transport contributing to rural depopulation.”
Robert Neill, vice-president of NFU Scotland, said: “This report reinforces what we hear every day from our members: rural communities are proud, resilient and full of potential, but too often face barriers that limit their ability to thrive. … We urge policymakers to treat these findings as a clear call to action.”
Fionna Kell, director of policy at Homes for Scotland, said: “These are critical insights from rural Scots, which show that nearly half view the lack of available housing a key driver for people moving away from their communities, their work, and their local economies. … Urgent action is now needed to support the small and medium home builders, whose numbers have fallen 70 per cent since 2007 and are so critical to employing and training people across rural communities and delivering much-needed rural homes.”
