2007 Conference

The annual WMRAF Conference - Sustainable Rural Communities: 'Our Future in Your Hands' - was held on Friday 16 November 2007 at Dunchurch Park Hotel and Conference Centre, Rugby.  

The report of the event, and presentation slides from some of the talks, can be seen be following the links below. (All files are in PDF.)

Conference report

Presentation slides:
Opening speech - Robin Mortimer,Defra
What do sustainable communities mean to me? - Chris Kolek, CRC
Case study 1: Shropshire Pathfinder - Clare Greener
Case study 2: The Peak District National Park - Richard Godley
Case study 3: Rural Hubs - James Walton

Message from Nick Read, Chairman of the West Midlands Rural Affairs Forum:

The word "sustainable" has become one of the most significant, or at least most often used, words of our time. It seems to apply to everything from farming to funding. It is, of course, very important that we live sustainably - but in practical terms what does that mean for those living in a rural context? It obviously encompasses a wide range of issues such as access to services, transport and the infrastructure that supports our towns and villages, and also the environment and responsible land use policies. To be truly sustainable a community must also experience those things that make people want to live and work together - the spiritual and social aspects of our lives.