Observatory (Archive)

The Observatory opens the window to a statistical view of rural life. It provides analyses and comment on key service provision and issues affecting rural communities.

 ECONOMY 

The Observatory section on the Economy looks at all elements of the rural economy such as employment, small businesses and wage levels to build a picture of the impact on rural communities.

 HOUSING

Balancing the housing market, improving the quality of housing stock, and enabling the provision of affordable housing are all key issues which concern rural local authorities. These are often topical issues and the Housing section of the Observatory considers what the data available can tell us about the position in rural communities, and what challenges rural communities might face in the future.

 ENVIRONMENT

Both rural and uban environments face similar challenges with issues such as flooding, flytipping however the implications of these issues can be significant in rural areas where the cost of dealing with them is significantly higher per incident. Delivering waste management services to rural communities also has significant challenges in terms of cost and logistics and analysis on these issues and other environmental concerns are included in this section.

 HEALTH, WELLBEING & SOCIAL SERVICES

A civilized society is one in which health and wellbeing are promoted, and care is provided to those requiring help or assistance to live a full and productive life. The benefits of a healthy community are measurable both in terms of economy and the relative levels of happiness and fulfillment experienced. Likewise, the negative impact of health inequality is also a measurable factor in the wellbeing of a community. This section of the Observatory takes a look at the indicators of health, wellbeing, and the functions of social services to provide a perspective on how rural communities fare in these measures.

 LEARNING, SKILLS & EDUCATION 

The mission of the Department for Education is to develop a highly educated society in which opportunity is more equal for children and young people no matter what their background or family cirumstance. This section of the Observatory investigates whether these opportunities extend to children and young people from rural England.

 LOCAL SERVICES 

What makes our rural communities sustainable and vibrant? At the heart of our communities are elements such as access to services, healthcare, education, shops and community facilities. This section includes analysis in these areas.

 TRAVEL & TRANSPORT

Transport, travel and the associated infrastructure required to move about an area are particularly important to those living in rural isolation to access services, education/training and employment. The Travel and Transport section of the Observatory presents data that shows the reality of rural life and rural service provision.

 EMERGENCY SERVICES  

Emergency services provision including fire and rescue services, face particular challenges in their rural communities that can be quite different to their neighbouring urban communities. This section of the Observatory includes data on these issues and also considers community safety and related issues for rural communities.

 ENGLISH INDICES OF DEPRIVATION 

The English indices of deprivation 2015 were published in September 2015, and measure the relative deprivation of small areas in England. Details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-indices-of-deprivation-2015
Statistics on relative deprivation in England are given in this section.

Hot Topics
Housing Options

13 Mar 2013

Housing Options

Housing options

Read more
Motoring Tax Revenue Analysis

12 Mar 2013

Motoring Tax Revenue Analysis

How much more might the rural driver be contributing in motoring tax revenue than their urban neighbour?  The following analysis takes a look at this question, and presents an analysis...

Read more
Total Individual Insolvencies

08 Mar 2013

Total Individual Insolvencies

This analysis of Total Individual Insolvencies demonstrates the challenging financial times that we are all faced with.  The analysis allows the user to select a member authority for which the...

Read more
House Prices

07 Mar 2013

House Prices

This analysis looks at house prices for the period Q1-Q4 2015, for a chosen authority and housing type. Comparison is provided to the regional, English and rural/urban housing prices. The...

Read more
Economic Activity Analysis

06 Mar 2013

Economic Activity Analysis

This analysis of Economic Activity presents a view over time plus a rural average of the relative economic activity/inactivity experienced within a local authority area. The economic activity rate measures...

Read more
Travel time to Key Services

04 Mar 2013

Travel time to Key Services

Modern life can be fast paced and time pressured.  This is true whether one is living in an urban environment or the contemporary rural idyll.  The following spreadsheet demonstrates how...

Read more
Car Ownership

14 Feb 2013

Car Ownership

This analysis presents the average number of cars or vans per household for rural and urban communities – Car Ownership– Analysis User Guide Census 2011 data relating to car or...

Read more
Deaths Attributable to Alcohol from Land Transport Accidents

14 Feb 2013

Deaths Attributable to Alcohol from Land Transport Accidents

Deaths from land transport accidents due to alcohol is a particular issue for rural areas. The following analysis looks at this issue and provides an opportunity to consider what might...

Read more
The Use of Taxis in Rural Communities – a Discussion Point

14 Feb 2013

The Use of Taxis in Rural Communities – a Discussion Point

This analysis provides an insight into the usage os Taxis in rural commmunities and compares these trends to urban counterparts. – The use of taxis in rural communities

Read more
Rates of New Cases of Malignant Melanoma per Resident Population under 75

13 Feb 2013

Rates of New Cases of Malignant Melanoma per Resident Population under 75

This analysis investigates the rates of new cases of malignant melanoma per resident population under 75 Rates of new cases of malignant melanoma per resident population under 75– Analysis User...

Read more