LOCAL government leaders from across North Yorkshire have been warned that young people are becoming an endangered species in rural areas – and agreed to support a campaign to try to reverse the trend.

Richmondshire District Council leader Cllr John Blackie told members of the Local Government North Yorkshire and York meeting in Richmond’s Mercury House today (Friday, October 3) that the Upper Dales is suffering from a “mass exodus” of young families which is putting communities under threat.

Cllr Blackie said: “This is not a problem that will go away if we just wait to see what happens – that is not an option.

“First of all we need to recognise what is happening right under our noses.

“The school population in Reeth and Gunnerside has gone from 95 to 47 places in the last 15 years; and at Askrigg and Bainbridge there has been a drop from 117 children on the school roll to just 66.”

Cllr Blackie cited quality employment, affordable housing, and local services as the major factors in families moving away and said authorities in the district must work together to avoid a crisis.

Chief executive of Harrogate Borough Council Wallace Sampson said he felt the problem was not just a rural one, but in Harrogate too.

He said: “In Harrogate we have lots of young people moving away to go to university and they don’t come back until they are ready to settle down – but then affordable housing is still a problem.”

The meeting supported Cllr Blackie’s campaign and authorities including Ryedale District Council said they were interested in following Richmondshire District Council’s plans to look into providing its own social housing scheme.

A rural conference is to be organised later this year or early in 2015 in partnership with other local authorities and organisations to address the issues raised.