Commuting kills village life: 40% don’t know neighbours

ONE-IN-FOUR of rural dwellers travel more than 40 miles a day to work and this is having an adverse effect on their local community, a survey published yesterday revealed.

The survey of 1,250 rural households showed that more than four out of every 10 non-farm rural households have no involvement in any community, voluntary or sporting organisation and have little or no contact with their neighbours.

“Many commuters are simply ‘sleeping’ in their rural homes. This disconnectivity and lack of neighbourliness creates concern for the social fabric of many rural areas,” the study said.