ALAN Beith MP has backed calls on the Government to take action to bring more affordable housing to rural areas.
The government's Rural Advocate Dr Stuart Burgess this week launched his second report to the Prime Minister, setting out the aspirations, experiences and concerns of people living and working in rural England.
He visited rural communities, includin
g Holy Island, to find out people's thoughts.
Dr Burgess said the lack of affordable housing to rent and buy is the single biggest issue for the countryside.
Mr Beith said: "Berwick and Alnwick are among the places with the highest proportion of second homes and the widest gap between house prices and local wages.
"There is a desperate need for more low-cost social housing in the area and up to now government policy has not been helping to achieve this."
Dr Burgess said: "Rural life can offer great advantages and I have seen many examples of real community spirit and creative solutions to problems.
"But I have also witnessed people in real hardship and struggling to get by. There are over 928,000 rural households living below the official government poverty threshold of £16,492 household income per annum.
"But because rural disadvantage is scattered it is hidden through the averaging of official statistics and a perception of the countryside as affluent and idyllic."
Coun Isabel Hunter, leader of Berwick Borough Council, said: "Affordable housing is a big problem here, and creating housing choice is one of the council's top priorities. But we need to keep pushing at all levels for change to ensure that there are homes and suitable employment opportunities for young people in the borough so that they don't feel that they have to move away."
Coun Roger Styring, leader of Alnwick District Council, said: ""We have a growing elderly population who are feeling increasingly isolated due to rural services and public transport cuts. The younger generation are leaving the area because they can't afford to get onto the property ladder and job opportunities are limited.
"These are very fundamental problems that sit right at the heart of our rural communities and must be addressed if our rural way of life is to survive and thrive in the future."
