POVERTY blights one-fifth of rural homes, says the Yorkshire Post (Saturday, April 18). Here in Ryedale, on the Moors and Wolds, that’s the stark truth.
The Rural Services network warns that the disparity of Local Authority grant from London leaves rural areas suffering in comparison with urban area at about £178 per head. Hence higher council taxes to compensate.
They say that local public services are at a “tipping point” affecting bus services, social care support, libraries and more. Austerity measures have bitten harder here. It follows that if further cuts come some services will disappear.
Transport to hospitals and surgeries are often long, time consuming distances. Disabled people without transport unable to attend interviews risk sanctions. Voluntary groups cannot fill the gaps.
Elderly people and children needing specialist treatment, regularly travel to York and Scarborough hospitals, some to Leeds and Middlesbrough.
The rural world suffers inequality in more ways than one.
David Sumner, Hovingham
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