The rural White Paper “Rural England: A Nation Committed to a Living Countryside” was published in 1995. It was the first comprehensive statement specifically on rural policy for 50 years and its importance stemmed from the need to reassess government policy in light of rapidly changing priorities in the English countryside. It included measures to strengthen rural businesses and to promote economic diversification, provide high-quality rural services and to develop more affordable rural housing.
In 1998, Cambridgeshire Community Council became Cambridgeshire ACRE reflecting the Council’s membership of the wider ACRE network of rural community councils. The organisation celebrated its 75th birthday with a garden party held at its office in Cottenham.
There was more change in the government’s support for rural areas when, in 1999, the Countryside Agency was formed through the merging of the Countryside Commission and the Rural Development Commission.
Strengthening rural businesses and promoting economic diversification
There was a realisation that lagging rural areas needed additional investment if they were to prosper. The Fens LEADER II European economic programme was the first of its kind in the area to use an area-based, bottom-up approach to making decisions on project investment with £1.5m being invested locally by the end of the decade. Cambridgeshire ACRE supported communities and businesses to make applications to investment funds targeted across the fenland area.
Improving the quality of rural services
The Millennium Commission was set up in 1993 with funding raised through the UK National Lottery to celebrate the turn of the Millennium. Amongst other things, it offered grants for new halls and refurbishments. Cambridgeshire received £170,000 and halls at Swaffham Prior, Alwalton, Tilbrook and Horningsea benefitted. It was noted at the time that “the cash is welcome, but it is only the tip of the iceberg and future support is needed to maintain halls.”
More affordable rural housing
The Rural White Paper reinforced rural exception site policy enabling affordable housing to be built outside normal village boundaries. In 1998, Cambridgeshire ACRE appointed its first Rural Housing Enabler, funded by the Rural Development Commission, to identify hidden housing need and assist with the provision of affordable housing by helping to guide interested landowners through the necessary agreements with housing associations and others.
Undertaking parish plans
Many communities were now undertaking parish plans which were community-led plans that set out a vision for the future of their parish and outlined in an action plan how this would be achieved. The whole community was involved in the plan development process. Funded by the rural District Councils, over 70 communities produced parish plans setting out their visions and needs for the future.