The 1960s was a decade of many significant events and changes that impacted significantly on rural life more than ever before. People’s lifestyles were changing with most homes now having access to electricity and modern appliances such as a fridge and cooker. Increasing private car ownership opened up access to towns and cities for rural residents to enjoy new work and leisure opportunities.
In March 1965, following redrawing of county boundaries, the organisation changed its name once again becoming the Community Council for Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely, Huntingdonshire and Peterborough, with a new constitution allowing it to work in Peterborough for the first time.
Concerns over dying village halls
Concerned about rapid social changes, an important village hall conference was organised to discuss the future use of village halls and their maintenance. Those attending were concerned that village halls were ‘dying’ with their provision being seen as ‘olde worlde’ and not attractive to modern communities.
“It is true that the motor car and the television set have removed some of the audience for certain types of village entertainment and increased costs of maintenance have set village hall committees a financial problem.”
1962 Annual Report
However, between the end of the 1950s and the mid 1960s, 41 new village halls were built, bringing the total number of halls in the county to 130 (out of 230 villages).
Responding to rapidly changing community needs
In 1966, the Allotments and Gardens Council administered by the Community Council since the Second World War was wound up following a decline in interest as there was less necessity for communities to grow their own food.
In the same year, support was given to the Cambridgeshire Sports Advisory Council to survey all existing sports facilities in the county to assess future needs and this highlighted the need for all-weather, flood-lit facilities.
The Community Council supported the formation and running of the Cambridge and Commonwealth Friendship Council which was concerned with “the immigrant community and their special problems”, showing the changing nature of the make-up of rural communities.
Changes to rural industry
Rural industry in the county had started to move away from agricultural industries and into instrument-making and light engineering. In 1968 the level of support required for rural industry sees the formation of a new organisation CoSIRA, the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas, charged specifically with improving the prosperity of small businesses in the countryside by providing a local source of advice backed up by technical and management services.
