Shropshire Star

Young 'forced out of Shropshire countryside'

More and more young people are being forced to leave Shropshire because life in rural villages is disintegrating, according to a new investigation. More and more young people are being forced to leave Shropshire because life in rural villages is disintegrating, according to a new investigation. South Shropshire is the worst affected area, with almost 40 per cent of people aged between 24 and 35 leaving the area in the 10 years to 2007. New statistics show that there has also been a dramatic increase in the county's elderly population, putting additional pressure on services. Almost a quarter of the county's population was over retirement age in 2008, the latest year for which statistics are available. However, that figure is projected to rise significantly. Full story in today's paper

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More and more young people are being forced to leave Shropshire because life in rural villages is disintegrating, according to a new investigation.

South Shropshire is the worst affected area, with almost 40 per cent of people aged between 24 and 35 leaving the area in the 10 years to 2007.

New statistics show that there has also been a dramatic increase in the county's elderly population, putting additional pressure on services. Almost a quarter of the county's population was over retirement age in 2008, the latest year for which statistics are available. However, that figure is projected to rise significantly.

Campaign to Protect Rural England spokesman Andy Boddington said there was no incentive for young people to stay in Shropshire.

He said: "Low wages, limited work and education opportunities and high house prices mean that too many young people in Shropshire's rural areas are forced to leave.

"Young people who work in rural communities breathe life into them. They keep our schools alive and help manage our farms and landscapes. They staff the services that holidaymakers and those that retire here need."

A Shropshire Star investigation has revealed that the closure of schools, shops, pubs and post offices is also contributing to outward migration by youngsters.

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