However, the triple negative outcome of a global pandemic, exit from the EU and global warming could also bring some opportunities for communities to thrive. A report, published by the Public Health of Wales (PHW) on Tuesday, focused on rural communities across Wales and looked at how the three biggest issues of the last season could bring a number of opportunities as well as negative effects on navigation. Read more:Living in the Shadow of a Wind Farm: People Surrounded by Wind Turbines Promising to Cut Bills, Now Terrified They Could Fall Like Trees More and more people working from home and more people wanting to move to the countryside could see rural communities enjoying a real recovery in their wealth. Liz Green, PHW Public Health, Policy and International Health Advisor, said: “Rural environments and communities have become much more attractive to live and work with during the pandemic, mainly due to the increased focus on work in a home that promotes a more flexible approach for employees and their families. “ While this may lead to increased numbers of sustainable services and facilities, there is another side to it: it could also mean that locals are valued by the local housing market, an issue that is already being felt in parts of Wales as the crisis of the latter continues. housing. Rural communities will also need the right digital infrastructure and accessibility if they want to take advantage of opportunities and people will need to improve their “digital literacy”. With older people generally living in rural areas compared to urban communities and dependence on agriculture, rural health, prosperity and equality may suffer in the coming years, PHW said. A quarter of those living in rural communities are of retirement age, while almost a third work in the agricultural sector. These are the ways – good and bad – the three hot topics of Covid, Brexit and climate change could have a huge impact on rural Wales, according to PHW.
Access to health and social care services
Positive
Fewer dating trips – digitization and artificial intelligence triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic and exit from the EU could help accelerate new healthcare careers, which means that older people or less affluent will not have to travel by appointment
Negatively
Increased costs of providing health services – it is more difficult to achieve economies of scale and more staff per capita are needed to provide health services and care in rural communities Increased waiting times – pandemic has had a greater detrimental effect on hospital waiting times in rural and remote trusts across the UK than in more urban areas Difficulty hiring – changes in work practices and Brexit could have a particularly disproportionate impact on lower healthcare practices and health facilities in more rural communities
Access to digital and communication services
Positive
A boost to digital skills and broadband – could help rural businesses diversify and grow innovatively Equal competition – better ICT skills and digital connectivity could see rural areas reach the urban gap Reducing the Broadband Gap – Urban Areas Tend to Have Better Super or Ultra Fast Broadband Increased loneliness – a shift from a “away from home” lifestyle to an “inside home” and more physically and socially isolated life becomes more pronounced in rural areas. These effects are potentially strong for those already suffering from rural vulnerability, loneliness and social isolation.
Negatively
Difficulties with work at home and education at home – Internet service failures and the coverage, strength and reliability of Internet connections and cell phone signals have made it difficult for some rural people to work efficiently from home and have access to online services during the pandemic Less funding available – Brexit means less money than the CAP and the EU Structural Funds which could mean less money to develop digital connectivity and therefore fewer opportunities to develop new, more innovative activities, seek new opportunities and connect to new markets
Movement of people and migration
Positive
Skilled workers moving to rural areas – the shift to work at home means that skilled workers are increasingly moving from more urban to rural communities. Fewer rural second homes – second homes could increasingly become first homes / main homes as people move out of cities with the impact of local community diversification, renaissance or economic, social and sustainable development. Read more about the impact of second homes in Wales here. Increased recruitment from other non-European regions – the negative impact of Brexit could be offset by increased recruitment outside the European Economic Area (EEA), with rural Wales health councils regularly campaigning in countries such as New Zealand
Negatively
Undermining urban regeneration efforts – households moving from denser locations to more rural ones could leave urban centers more empty and less attractive places to live Businesses were forced to close due to staff shortages – many rural businesses depended on migrant workers for agricultural businesses, tourism, food production and health and social care. With the effects of Brexit affecting migrant workers, some of these businesses may be forced to close
Work
Positive
More employment opportunities – technology could help bridge geographical inequality in the UK, as people can now work from anywhere Returning to rural areas – working at home means that young people and young adults who want to stay or return to rural communities can do so. For Wales, this could have a potentially positive effect on the Welsh language More opportunities for Wales – Freedom from the CAP after Brexit could bring new opportunities for Wales land management policy and environmental protection for rural agriculture
Negatively
More financial insecurity and job stress – Wales rural communities have higher than national average self-employment levels that could only provide precarious employment or the added responsibility of running their own business Lack of seasonal workers – the pandemic and Brexit have had a significant impact on the seasonal migrant workforce, mainly due to immigration regulations and visa and quarantine changes. Stress about climate change – Farmers and fishermen are at greater risk of developing depression, anxiety and other mental health problems, including suicide due to drought and climate change pressures and their potential economic impact. living Worse mental health and well-being – evidence suggests Brexit could exacerbate this problem in rural communities through recruitment challenges, reduced export opportunities and historical dependence on EU funding
Tourism and hospitality
Positive
More Visitors to Wales – More Visitors to Wales When They Could Not Travel Outside the UK for Vacation in the Countryside, Mountains and Rural Coastal Destinations Especially with Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire and Mid-Wales More tourists from abroad – more visitors from inside and outside the UK could benefit from Wales’s significant non-industrial coastline and the defined landscapes that offer existing farms in Wales the opportunity to diversify their leisure and leisure activities, including farming to become a significant source of income
Negatively
Lack of demand – Tourism-dependent businesses, such as campsites, farm attractions, pubs and shops, have received reduced incomes or been forced to close as a result of non-core travel restrictions and may never reopen Small business funding cut – Brexit means less EU funding for small tourism businesses, with domestic funding not responding to what was previously provided. Brexit has also led to workforce challenges in the tourism and hospitality sector with changes to immigration rules leaving gaps in many rural communities
Do you live in a rural area? Tell us what challenges and opportunities you face in the comments section below
Local fundamental economies
Positive
More time in local areas – Individuals and their families used centers near them during Covid instead of traveling farther, thus spending more time in their local areas, including more rural locations. Greater impact – rural locations have become more attractive to many due to the flexibility of working from home, with the Welsh government targeting 30% of the population working remotely Exploring local revenue streams – Brexit provides an opportunity to reorient guides to land management policy in Wales, including exploring local revenue streams that would boost local underlying economies Favorable growing conditions – Climate change could lead to land use change in rural areas, with some areas in Wales having huge potential for growing certain types of locally produced fruits and vegetables
Negatively
Less EU funding – rural communities received a high level of investment during their cooperation with the EU, and rural Wales was the main recipient of support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). These are likely to be replaced by the Share Prosperity Fund, with a strong risk of declining funding in rural Wales
Food production
Positive
A green recovery – the pandemic showed resilience in the food production system and the opportunity for governments to invest in agricultural enterprises to redefine a green recovery through diversification and modernization of systems Changes in funding – Brexit means the way farmers receive funding – especially direct rural …
