NEW research demonstrates the vulnerability of rural citizens in the face of looming public spending cuts.

Rural communities will face disproportionately severe cuts in services unless Whitehall recognises rural challenges, claims the Rural Services Network (RSN).

With the cost of service delivery up to 90% higher than in urban areas, across-the-board budget cuts would immensely damage vulnerable rural communities, it said.

At the same time, rural wages were among the lowest in the country.

The precarious state of rural services is highlighted in the network's Rural Review of Public Services 2010.

The study draws on the latest data and the local knowledge of the network's 250 members, including rural local authorities.

It covers five main areas:

• Public Transport
• Primary Schools
• Affordable Housing
• Facilities for Young People
• Support Services for Older People

A full copy of the review can be downloaded here (1.6Mb pdf).

Network chairman Roger Begy said: “Rural Communities are set to bear the brunt of the fiscal squeeze.

“Due to the failure of government funding formulae to recognise the costs of providing services across rural areas, many services survive on a shoestring – which means even small cuts can seriously undermine them.”

The research shows that village schools are high quality and achieve good average test results.

Yet many face the threat of reviews and possible closure.

Similarly, rural public transport – which younger and older people often rely on to reach key services – has improved in places.

But such gains are now at risk of being put into reverse.

“The research presented in this document needs to act as a stark warning to policy makers,” said Mr Begy.

“A failure to appreciate the particular challenges faced by service providers in rural areas could be devastating, particularly where they serve the most vulnerable.”

The report shows that the cost of delivering services in sparsely populated areas up to 90% more expensive than rural area.

At the same time, the number of older rural people requiring social care is set to grow by 70% over the next 20 years - faster than urban areas.

Some 50% of households in villages and hamlets are without a regular bus service, defined as an hourly or better service within 13 minutes walk.

Mr Begy acknowledged that rural communities should face their fair share of any future spending cuts.

But the low starting point of rural areas compared to urban must be factored into decisions about how to share the pain.