Our aim is to reduce the gap in productivity between the least well performing quartile of rural areas and the English Median by 2008, demonstrating progress by 2006, and improve the accessibility of services for people in rural areas.
The evidence for poor economic and social conditions in some rural areas is both compelling and measurable. Our target is to lay solid foundations to achieve sustainable and long term regeneration in these areas.
The Countryside Quality Counts project (CQC) provides a systematic assessment of how the countryside is changing. It helps us to understand where change is occurring and whether change matters to people, in terms of the way it affects the things about landscape that people value. This information can be used to inform decision-making and policies for achieving sustainable development - enhancing and maintaining the character and quality of our countryside for this and future generations.
Welcome to the South West Observatory - the regional information gateway. Here you can access a network of analysts and information across a broad range of demographic, environmental and economic services.
The Observatory is made up of six thematic Modules, seven sub-regional intelligence networks and a co-ordinating core unit. The network is working to a common vision; that policy making in, and about, the south west region should be based on sound evidence. It is the Observatory's aim to be the automatic first port of call for intelligence about the South West region and its parts, with any one of our constituent bodies being a portal to all of our network of experts and resources.