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Press Releases
Countryfile poll suggests lack of affordable homes biggest issue for the countryside
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An opinion poll carried out to mark the 20th anniversary of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s Countryfile programme suggests that a lack of affordable housing is the single greatest threat facing the future of the countryside over the next 20 years.
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Much has been heard about this issue in urban areas but this poll now points to the issue being of widespread concern to those in the countryside too.
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More people are worried about somewhere affordable to live than soaring cost of food or climate change, according to the ICM poll.
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Two thousand people in urban and rural areas across the country were asked what worried them most from a list of 10 issues drawn up by Countryfile.
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The greatest number - 26% - said a lack of affordable homes, twice the number who expressed fears about the rising cost of food.
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The threat to Britain's wildlife and habitats from, for example, intensive farming, over-development and the use of pesticides got just 4% of the vote.
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And fears about animal disease in the wake of Blue Tongue, Avian Flu Bovine TB and Foot and Mouth – which devastated the countryside in 2001 and cost taxpayers £8bn – came bottom of the list, with just 1%.
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The details of the survey will be revealed in a special edition of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One programme on Sunday 27 July 2008.
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In the special programme, John Craven and fellow presenters Ben Fogle, Michaela Strachan and Adam Henson will mark 20 years of Countryfile.
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They'll be returning to Swaledale in Yorkshire to catch up on the first stories ever covered – including the shortage of affordable housing!
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Countryfile is the country's most popular Sunday morning show, regularly attracting more than 2 million viewers.
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The 1,000th edition is in February 2009. Ìý
The poll was conducted by ICM on behalf of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Countryfile. 2,012 people were interviewed by telephone between 14 and 18 May 2008.
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| Poll results |
| Position |
Issue |
Total % |
Urban % |
Rural % |
| 1 |
Lack of affordable housing |
26 |
26 |
25 |
| 2 |
The effects of climate change |
20 |
20 |
16 |
| 3 |
The need for renewable energy |
14 |
14 |
14 |
| 4 |
The cost of producing food |
13 |
13 |
16 |
| 5 |
Over-development in the countryside |
10 |
9 |
12 |
| 6 |
Loss of rural services |
6 |
5 |
7 |
| 7 |
Threat to wildlife and habitat |
4 |
3 |
5 |
| 8 |
Animal welfare |
2 |
2 |
1 |
| 9 |
State of the sea |
2 |
2 |
1 |
| 10 |
Animal disease |
1 |
1 |
1 |
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