VILLAGE PEOPLE

Rural communities with thriving High Streets have never been more popular, says Graham Norwood

The village is back with a bang. Data from estate agency Strutt & Parker shows that this particular revival is well under way, with 21 per cent of house movers wanting to live in a small rural community.

This figure easily outstrips those preferring market towns (14 per cent) or people wanting to live in the suburbs or city centres which come in at 12 per cent each.

But city slickers quitting the smoke no longer want to give up all practical comforts and conveniences — the emphasis is on what Strutt & Parker calls the ‘amenity-rich village’.

On the must-have list for buyers heading to the country, the agency says fast broadband and strong mobile telephone connections are regarded as essentials, followed by being able to walk to shops.

Almost half those preferring to move to villages say local public transport and doctors’ surgeries are necessities, too.

The villages that attract most people are larger ones which generally have avoided the likes of Post Office and pub closures that have hit many rural areas in recent years.

‘As the urban trend gathered pace, negative traits have appeared such as a rise in inadequate housing, urban sprawl and increased pollution,’ says Stephanie McMahon, at Strutt & Parker.

‘Our research shows the new shift from cities is driven by people wanting to be in friendly, safe neighbourhoods, with additional spaces and a strong community feel,’ she says.

The renaissance of village life is partly down to Big Society- style community initiatives which have kept open shops, pubs and amenities which otherwise might have closed.

For example, the local store at Pwllglas, near Ruthin in Denbighshire was re- opened by the community last year after being closed for 20 years. It has now been named Best Village Shop in Wales by the Countryside Alliance.

Across Britain, six of the 13 finalists in the contest were community-owned stores, from St Tudy in Cornwall to huby in North Yorkshire.

Now the Government is offering £3.62 million for the Community Pub Programme, for loans and business advice to local groups who want to avoid last orders being served on 80 rural inns.

‘Pubs are central to people’s sense of place and identity, they provide a place for people to meet and help community cohesion,’ says Peter Couchman, chief executive of the Plunkett Foundation, which helps local communities take over threatened facilities. If you want a taste of the country, here are five villages with top class amenities and rural atmosphere.