Paul Tate: Having been through the community solution in 2003-5 I remain to be convinced that this is the proper way to go for Next Generation Broadband as Paul H said a little background here: http://www.pmtate.co.uk/2008/09/next-generation-broadband/ Paul

chris: yep the community solution in 2003-5 was a brilliant initiative but as you say BT jinxed it all and govt fell for it hook line and sinker. There had been funding made available for communities but when BT said everyone could get broadband the ministers and RDAs believed them. The funding pot was pulled and wasted on other things. It is still a fact that lots of rural communities (notspots) still don't have a connection and never will, and many have a pathetic under half meg connection. There is no chance putting these people on to next gen will be economic when you look at the profit to be made in cities. If BT are to be allowed to cream off that vast profit they should be made to invest in rural areas as well before paying vast dividends to shareholders and bosses. If they aren't gonna do that then funding is the only way it can happen, because as you pointed out - communities get tired. Volunteers get another life. If the countryside is to regenerate it needs broadband. It is the one utility that will provide a lifeline. chris

Samantha Adams: This article was in the news today - the small business perspective on the frustrating situation of broadband in our rural areas: http://xpressdigest.org.uk/?p=12429?=xpdmail

Chris Wade: Brian, How very apt and something we can remind John Craven of in Skipton. We find town partnerships are equally concerned about housing but to-date do not know how to address it. Chris

Samantha Adams: Hi Chris & everyone, Just read this interesting article on the BBC News website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7640256.stm According to the National Housing Federation and CPRE - there are 37% more people waiting for a home in rural England than in 2003 - so up by over a third in 5 years.

Catherine Setchell: Thanks for your comments Rebecca. I agree that many voluntary organisations, particularly smaller community groups, often do not have the resources (mainly time and money) to carry out marketing activities. With this challenge in mind, Media Trust's project aims to introduce low-cost, (if not free), marketing solutions to the voluntary sector, as well as offer advice on marketing and media strategies that will make the best use of people's time. As well as the training workshops I mentioned above, we have a couple of free services which are a great way to raise the profile of your organisation. Community Newswire is a free news service that helps voluntary and community groups gain valuable media coverage. Organisations submit their press releases to Community Newswire and then they are written up into a news story by a Press Association journalist and sent out to the Press Association newswire, reaching thousands of journalists each day (www.mediatrust.org/community-newswire). And our Media Matching service brings together charities and voluntary organisations with media professionals who offer them pro bono advice from PR, marketing, design, branding, digital media, web services and communications strategies (www.mediatrust.org/media-matching). A major component of the Marketing and Communications NSS project is an online resource that we are in the process of developing, made up of a number of topic modules. These will be packed full of tips, advice and downloadable resources that support organisations, and frontline groups can use to develop their marketing strategy. So please keep an eye out for the launch of this on our website (www.mediatrust.org) over the coming months. I hope some of these services are a useful start for organisations looking for free media and communications assistance. And I look forward to hearing more marketing challenges and experiences of rural community groups!

Catherine Setchell: Hi Again, Forgot to mention in my last post that I'll be away for a week, so unfortunately won't be able to participate online with further discussion until I'm back. But I look forward to reading all about how the event has gone on my return. Sorry again, that I'm missing out on meeting you all!

Damian Harries: Hi Catherine, When you get back, don't just 'read all about it', re-engage with the online element which will run on beyond the live event dates. Check-out futurechoices.ruralnet.org.uk, which will go live next week providing live coverage of the event and have blog posts, video clips, interviews with speakers and delegates and Simon Berry's 20:20 Vision...and much more! Damian

Melanie Saxton: Are there any plans to provide funding for RHE's in the near future? Especially needs financial support to identify rural housing needs and undertake surveys and identification of sites . Thanks Jackie

Simon Berry: Thanks for these ideas. Anyone got any more? The interview has now been confirmed with Matthew for 2pm on Tuesday. Regards Simon

Chris Wade: Simon, Here are a selection of questions on behalf of AMT members: Are the proposals in his report for the planned growth of market towns proposed as an alternative to new 'eco-towns' and which option does he see as the most environmentally sustainable? In many ways the proposals to build thousands of new homes linked to market towns and re-enforcing their identity is very enlightened; but how can the doughnut affect be avoided where this might open the door for a ring of suburban commuter housing around those small towns within travelling distance of urban areas? Are these just thought-provoking ideas or does he believe that he has the ear of Government to make the necessary legislative; funding and advisory changes to bring a special focus and commitment to addressin the needs of rural areas? Will there be a chance for a wider debate about the proposals in his report and how can organisations like Action for Market Towns and ruralnet|uk help with this?

Simon Berry: Just to update you all. Subject to us agreeing an interview date, I am pleased to say that an interview with Matthew will be part of the online element of the event which is simply brilliant. If you have any questions you'd like us to ask Matthew please post them here (just leave a comment). Thanks.

Graham Mitchell: I do hope that the issue of NGA will be discussed either online or at the physical event. It will be a valuable precursor to the planned conference in Manchester on this issue on November 4. I've been getting stuck in to the issues around NGA and rural development for the last several months as I try to promote the idea in my locality - West Yorkshire's Colne Valley. It strikes me that fibre to the Home would probably have the singly biggest impact of any major intervention on all the major issues facing rural and semi-rural communities in terms of both economic and social development over the next 20+ years. NGA is the utility for the 21st century, and should be viewed as an essential service with a minimum bandwidth standard of 50Mbps to every home and business premises. If we wait until the new digital divide is created we will be faced with more costly remedial action as we will not only be dealing with building networks, but also the loss of employment, disinvestment, and societal problems arising from that divide, which will be deeper and far more damaging than the issues arising from ADSL roll-out. Not necessarily a question for Taylor, although his report on rural housing does indeed flag up the need for action on this issue.

Simon Berry: Thanks for this Graham. I share your views: http://simonberry.ruralnet.org.uk/category/broadband/ I'm hoping that the CBN members here will get the discussion going that you suggest. As you say it would be a great preliminary to your conference on 4 November.

Paul Henderson: I just Twittered about this post and Laura Whitehead (who is on Crowdvine, just sent a message back "We have local currency in my nearby town of Totnes (part of Transistion Towns)" https://twitter.com/LittleLaura/statuses/923168456 and a pic of the money! http://twitpic.com/bsmp

Tracey Todhunter: You can read about the recent RSN Conference which discussed local currencies here http://www.r-s-n.org.uk/conference_2008_programme, we heard stories from groups all over Europe on this subject. Also see a short interview with Rob Hopkins from Transition Network at the launch of the Lewes pound here http://transitionculture.org/2008/09/11/lewes-pound-launch-a-night-to-take-the-breath-away/ In Frodsham (my local market town) we have the Frodsham Forward reward Card which allows shoppers to collect points for using local independent retailers. Local currencies will be the subject of a carousel presentation by Dr. Peter North (a leading writer and researcher on this subject) at the Low Carbon Communities Conference on 4th October in Llangollen.

Samantha Adams: Hi everyone - I just read today (Mon 15 Sept) about the CRC publishing five studies putting the spotlight on transport challenges facing rural areas - read more on the CRC website here: http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/publications/thinkingaboutruraltransportthecontributionoftransporttosustainableruralcommunities

Simon Berry: Simon Berry Spacer Simon Berry I don't want to give too much away about this session otherwise it will spoil it! So what can I do to make sure you come? Well. The session will be interactive, and I guarantee that everyone who attends will be able to have their say (and I mean that). Together we will all start a process that I hope will influence rural policy and planning over the next 10 years. Please leave your comments and questions below.

Tim Frenneaux: "Linking online systems with 'live' events will change the way we do conferencing in the future, and has already impacted some events. It has great potential in the rural context, don't you think." Absolutely. Its certainly much easier than scanning an A4 sheet of names and job titles and then trying to work out who you want to speak to and then who they are. Yorkshire Forward have run conferences in the past where we give participants pagers so they can identify who people are and contact them for discussions, but this opens up an avenue for discussion prior to the conference, which can only be a good thing, proviing it's well used of course.

ellie stoneley: looking forward to being back in Yorkshire in late September if not before ... this is a great idea - the 'through the line' approach that is being taken is the best way to build relationships prior to the conference to ensure maximum benefit from the event for everyone

Paul Henderson: Tracey is only small so she won't take up much room :)