RURAL communities should be granted the right to try to save essential services, say campaigners.

New ways are needed to sustain the quality of rural life, says the Plunkett Foundation.

A national event hosted by the charity is highlighting the potential for rural residents to save vital services by turning them into community-owned enterprises.

The Rural Communities – The Right to Try conference aims to go beyond the political rhetoric and help return power to rural communities.

It is being held in London on Wednesday (27 January).

Speakers include Conservative rural affairs spokesman Jim Paice MP and Local Government Association vice-president Alun Michael MP.

Community-owned shops – owned and operated by rural residents – have already saved dozens of village stores from closure.

The Plunkett Foundation believes community ownership provides an answer for rural areas facing a host of challenges.

Parts of the countryside were grappling with declining services, it said.

Residents faced limited job opportunities, a lack of affordable housing and poor public transport, the foundation warned.

If a village shop was threatened with closure, the community should have the right to try to save it, said Plunkett chief executive Peter Couchman.

Where a lack of affordable housing was a concern, residents should have the right to raise finance, secure land and build their own homes.

The same held true where a bus operator planned to withdraw a service: the community should have the right to put in place an alternative service.

The scales need to be tilted more firmly towards rural communities, said Mr Couchman.

“Rural communities want to take ownership of the issues affecting them but a lack of rights and lack of support are preventing them doing so.”

These barriers should be removed to enable more people to take control of their won destiny through community-ownership.

The event has been developed following support from the Big Lottery Fund, the Post Office and the Office of the Third Sector.